OSHA Inspection: MATERIAL DIFFERENCE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Issued

Apr 13, 2023

Abate by

May 18, 2023

Penalty

Initial $9,376 · Current $5,626 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.22(a)(1):  The employer did not ensure that all places of employment, passageways, storerooms, service rooms, and walking-working surfaces are kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition:  a) At the facility in Building 1 near the dryer 1 area, where the floor was not kept in a clean and orderly condition.  There was explosive dust mounds spread across the floor.  b) At the facility in Building 1 near the K2 machine area, where the floor was not kept in a clean and orderly condition.  There was explosive dust mounds spread the floor.  c) At the facility in Building 1 across from the wash line, where the floor was not kept in a clean and orderly condition.  There was dust mounds spread across the floor.  d) At the facility in Building 1 adjacent to the wash line stairs leading to the basement, where the floor was not  kept in a clean and orderly condition.  There were resin pellets that filled the stairwell leading to the basement.

Issued

Apr 13, 2023

Abate by

May 18, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2):  The employer did not ensure that the  floor of each workroom is maintained in a clean and, to the extent feasible, in a dry condition:  a) At the facility in Building 1 near the wash line, where the floor was not being maintained in a dry condition.  Water was spilling onto the floor from the wash process line.

Issued

Apr 13, 2023

Abate by

Jun 20, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $6,563 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(c)(1):  The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:  a) At the facility, where the employer did not administer a hearing conservation program.  On October 26, 2022, an employee was exposed to 152.2% of the noise dose which is equivalent to approximately 93 decibels.  The employee was sampled for approximately 376 minutes.  Zero exposure was assumed for the remaining 104 minutes.  b) At the facility, where the employer did not administer a hearing conservation program.  On October 26, 2022, an employee was exposed to 72.9% of the noise dose which is equivalent to approximately 87.7 decibels.  The employee was sampled for approximately 461 minutes.  Zero exposure was assumed for the remaining 19 minutes.  c) At the facility, where the employer did not administer a hearing conservation program.  On October 26, 2022, an employee was exposed to 57.8% of the noise dose which is equivalent to approximately 86.0 decibels.  The employee was sampled for approximately 384 minutes.  Zero exposure was assumed for the remaining 96 minutes.  d) At the facility, where the employer did not administer a hearing conservation program.  On October 26, 2022, an employee was exposed to 50.1% of the noise dose which is equivalent to approximately 85.0 decibels.  The employee was sampled for approximately 375 minutes.  Zero exposure was assumed for the remaining 105 minutes.

Issued

Apr 13, 2023

Abate by

May 18, 2023

Penalty

Initial $9,376 · Current $5,624 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9130

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(2)(ii):  The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user:   a) At the facility, where the employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program for voluntary use of respirators.

Issued

Apr 13, 2023

Abate by

May 18, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:   a) At the facility, where the employer did not provide medical evaluations to determine medical fitness of employees who wore elastomeric respirators.

Issued

Apr 13, 2023

Abate by

May 18, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,813 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.145(c)(3):  Safety instruction sign(s) were not used where there was a need for general instructions and suggestions relative to safety measure(s):   a) At the facility in Building 1, where there no signage posted warning of an explosive atmosphere.

Issued

Apr 13, 2023

Abate by

May 18, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $6,563 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.307(b): Areas designated as hazardous (classified) locations under the Class and Zone system and areas designated under the Class and Division system established after August 13, 2007 were not properly documented:   a) At the facility in Building 1, where Hazardous (classified) locations, such as areas subject to deposits of combustible resin dust during the manufacturing and drying operations, were not properly documented.

Issued

Apr 13, 2023

Abate by

May 18, 2023

Penalty

Initial $877 · Current $526 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9130

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(2)(i): Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:   a) At the facility, where the employer did not provide the employees with the information contained in Appendix D.  Employees were permitted to wear disposable and elastomeric respirators.

Issued

Apr 13, 2023

Abate by

May 18, 2023

Penalty

Initial $877 · Current $526 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:  a) At the facility, where the employer did not develop and implement a written hazard communication program.  Employees handle materials such as, but not limited to propane,  wash dry blend pp19 mixed mesh, and polypropylene pellets.