OSHA Inspection: SPECTRA COLORS CORP.

Issued

Nov 7, 2022

Abate by

Feb 15, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,252 · Current $7,252

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1):  The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm, including severe burns, to employees in that employees were exposed to dust explosion, deflagration, or other fire hazards from dust collectors:  a)  Workplace, 25 Rizzolo Road, Kearny, NJ  In the Blend Room, where employees mix approximately 600 lbs of dry dye powders daily, there is a Donaldson Torit dust collector approximately 40" x 90" x 151" in size,  approximately 305 ft3 in volume,  used to collect dust via 3 main ducts connected to smaller ducts and local exhaust vents.  This dust is explosive with a Kst Value of 7.16 Bar*Meter / sec.    This dust collector is located indoors in the Blend Room immediately adjacent to where employees work.  There is electrical equipment in this room that could produce an ignition source, such as rotating blender motors.  This dust collector does not have a deflagration venting to a safe area exposing the employees to the hazard of fire and explosion.  Violation occurred on or around May 12, 2022 to the present.

Issued

Nov 7, 2022

Abate by

Jan 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,252 · Current $3,593 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9130

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(2):The employer did not verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated, the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed, the date(s) of the hazard assessment, and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment:   a) Workplace, 25 Rizzolo Road, Kearny, NJ  In the workplace where the employer directs employees to blend dye powders in rotating drums in the Blend Room and requires the use of PPE including Full Face 3M respirators, Tyvek, gloves, and rubber boots, and where employees in the Liquids Room use chemicals that include Spectra Malachite Green Liquid and 15% Aqua Ammonia  that is corrosive, the employer did not develop and certify a written hazard assessment.    Violation occurred on or about May 9, 2022

Issued

Nov 7, 2022

Abate by

Dec 1, 2022

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $3,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9130

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:  Workplace, 25-31 Rizzolo Rd., Kearny, NJ  07032    The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator for employees required to wear  Full Face 3M  respirators and PAPR to  blend dye powders in rotating drums in the Blend Room.    Violation occurred on or about May 9, 2022

Issued

Nov 7, 2022

Abate by

Dec 1, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9130

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator:    The employer did not provide a fit test  to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator for employees required to wear  Full Face 3M  respirators and PAPR to  blend dye powders in rotating drums in the Blend Room.     Violation occurred on or about May 9, 2022

Issued

Nov 7, 2022

Abate by

Dec 1, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9130

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not provide effective training that covered the required elements in 1910.134(k)(1)(i) through 1910.134(k)(1)(vii):   Workplace, 25-31 Rizzolo Rd., Kearny, NJ  07032   The employer did not provide training in elements of proper respirator  use including but not limited to, maintenance and correct cartridges, to the employees required to wear  Full Face 3M respirators and PAPR to blend dye powders in rotating drums in the Blend Room.    Violation occurred on or about May 9, 2022

Issued

Nov 7, 2022

Abate by

Jan 17, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,151 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(e)(2): Switches, circuit breakers and switchboards installed in wet locations were not enclosed in weatherproof enclosures:   Workplace, 25-31 Rizzolo Rd. Kearny , NJ 07032  a) In the Liquids Room, there is a Seimens Electrical Switch that is 240 Volts that controls equipment including mixing motors.  It is immediately behind and adjacent to mixing vats that employees spray with water to clean and that produces aqueous liquid splashing.   It is not designed for use in wet or damp locations.  b)  In the Liquids Room, there is an Eaton Circuit Breaker enclosure that houses Breakers 7, 5 and 9 that controls equipment including mixing motors .   It is immediately behind and adjacent to mixing vats that employees spray with water to clean and that produces aqueous liquid splashing. It is not designed for use in wet or damp locations.  c) In the Blend Room, there is a Cutler-Hammer Electrical Switch that controls blending mixers.  It is subject to water spray during water spray cleaning of the blending mixers.   It is not designed for use in wet or damp locations.    Violation occurred on or about May 12, 2022

Issued

Nov 7, 2022

Abate by

Jan 17, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,151 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(j)(2)(iv): A receptacle installed in a wet or damp location was not suitable for the location:  a) Facility  In the Liquids Room, there is a 120 Volt receptacle installed  immediately behind and adjacent to mixing vats that employees spray with water to clean and that produces aqueous liquid splashing.   It is not designed for wet or damp locations.   Violation occurred on or about May 12, 2022

Issued

Nov 7, 2022

Abate by

Dec 1, 2022

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $3,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9130

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1): Employer had not developed or implemented a written hazard communication program included the requirements outlined in 29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1)(i) and (e)(1)(ii):    For employees directed to  blend dye powders in rotating drums in the Blend Room,  the employer did not implement a written hazard communication program for employees who work with and blend  various dye chemicals, including but not limited to Acid Red 52, that has been found to be mutagenic in hamster cell tests in vitro according to the SDS and  Acid Red 18, a Mono Azo where these compounds are known according to research available  that they can metabolize into more harmful carcinogenic substances .   Violation occurred on or about May 9, 2022

Issued

Nov 7, 2022

Abate by

Dec 1, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9130

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(3)(ii): Employee training did not include the physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area:   a) Facility  For employees directed to  blend dye powders in rotating drums in the Blend Room, the employer did not train employees in the chemical hazards of the various dye chemicals they blend, including but not limited to Acid Red 52, that has been found to be mutagenic in hamster cell tests in vitro according to the SDS and   Acid Red 18, a Mono Azo where these compounds are known according to research available  that they can metabolize into more harmful carcinogenic substances .   Violation occurred on or about May 9, 2022