OSHA Inspection: ARCH WOOD PROTECTION, INC.

Issued

Apr 27, 2023

Abate by

May 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $14,733 · Current $14,733

Hazardous substances 0260

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation:  (a) Acid Plant Control Room: On or about February 16, 2023, the employer failed to provide the adequate eye protection to a Material Handler exposed to an arsenic hazard. The employees were utilizing safety glasses that did not protect the employee from hazards such as but not limited to liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases, or vapors.

Issued

Apr 27, 2023

Abate by

May 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $15,625

Hazardous substances 0260

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:  (a) Mixing Area: On or about February 16, 2023, employees were exposed to chemical hazards in that the emergency eyewash/shower was blocked with pallets of material. Several drums of arsenic trioxide and arsenic acid drums, and corrosives, were stored in this area.

Issued

Apr 27, 2023

Abate by

Jun 14, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $15,625

Hazardous substances 0260

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1018(c): Employee(s) were exposed to inorganic arsenic at concentrations greater than ten micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an 8-hour period:  a) Acid Plant: On February 16, 2023, a material handler conducting drum dumping was exposed to arsenic at an 8-hour TWA of 199.4 �g/m^3 ; approximately 20 times above the permissible exposure limit of 10 �g/m^3. The exposure level was derived from one sample collected over a 437-minute sample period. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 43 minutes.  b) Acid Plant: On February 16, 2023, a material handler conducting drum dumping was exposed to arsenic at an 8-hour TWA of 38 �g/m^3 ; approximately 3.8 times above the permissible exposure limit of 10 �g/m^3. The exposure limit was derived from one sample collected over a 440-minute sample period. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 40 minutes.

Issued

Apr 27, 2023

Abate by

Sep 11, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0260

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1018(g)(1)(i): Engineering and work practice controls were not instituted to reduce inorganic arsenic exposure to or below permissible exposure limit:   a) Acid Plant: On February 16, 2023, a material handler conducting drum dumping was exposed to arsenic at an 8-hour TWA of 199.4 �g/m^3 ; approximately 20 times above the permissible exposure limit of 10 �g/m^3. The exposure level was derived from one sample collected over a 437-minute sample period. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 43 minutes. Engineering and/or work practice controls were not implemented to reduce employee exposures to inorganic arsenic.  b) Acid Plant: On February 16, 2023, a material handler conducting drum dumping was exposed to arsenic at an 8-hour TWA of 38 �g/m^3 ; approximately 3.8 times above the permissible exposure limit of 10 �g/m^3. The exposure limit was derived from one sample collected over a 440-minute sample period. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 40 minutes. Engineering and/or work practice controls were not implemented to reduce employee exposures to inorganic arsenic.

Issued

Apr 27, 2023

Abate by

Jun 14, 2023

Penalty

Initial $12,278 · Current $12,278

Hazardous substances 0260

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1018(k)(1): All surfaces were not maintained as free as practicable of accumulations of inorganic arsenic:  (a) Workstation desk: On or about February 16, 2023, employees and contractors were exposed to 44.53 micrograms of inorganic arsenic dust accumulated on the desk surface.  (b) Maintenance control room desk: On or about February 16, 2023, employees and contractors were exposed to 60.13 micrograms of inorganic rsenic dust accumulated on packaging of a food.  (c) Acid Plant Control Room: On or about February 16, 2023, employees and contractors were exposed to 10.4 micrograms of Inorganic arsenic dust accumulated on the refrigerator door.  (d) Mix Plant: On or about February 16, 2023, employees and contractors were exposed to 26.61 micrograms of inorganic arsenic dust accumulated on top of lockers.   (e) Respirator: On or about February 16, 2023, employees and contractors were exposed to 4.19 micrograms of inorganic arsenic dust accumulated inner surfaces of the respirator used by employees.

Issued

Apr 27, 2023

Abate by

May 9, 2023

Penalty

Initial $12,278 · Current $12,278

Hazardous substances 0260

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A): Respirators with tight-fitting facepieces were worn by employees who had facial hair that came between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interfered with valve function:  (a) Acid Plant: On or about February 16, 2023, employees required to wear a full-face, tight-fitting, negative pressure, respirator while working in the regulated area were not required to remove facial hair that would come between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face, exposing them to hazards related to inorganic arsenic.

Issued

Apr 27, 2023

Abate by

May 9, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0260

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(2)(i): Respirators were not stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals or  were not packed or stored to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve:  (a) Production Area: On or about February 16, 2023, employees were exposed to hazards associated with arsenic  due to respirators stored in locations,  such as but not limited to desks, cabinets, bookcases, breakrooms, and on top of lockers where physical damage, dust, sunlight, damaging chemicals, and accumulations of inorganic arsenic and hexavalent chromium (CrVI) can occur.

Issued

Apr 27, 2023

Abate by

May 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0260

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1018(f)(4): All persons entering an inorganic arsenic related area were not supplied with a respirator, selected in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1018 (h)(2):   (a) Acid Plant: On or about February 16, 2023, employees were exposed to hazards associated with arsenic when entering the regulated area without a respirator while the arsenic drum dumping process was being conducted.

Issued

Apr 27, 2023

Abate by

May 23, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,366 · Current $7,366

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(j)(1)(i): The employer did not ensure that all surfaces were maintained as free as practicable of accumulations of chromium (VI):  (a) Mixing Room-Break Room: On or about February 16, 2023, employees and contractors were exposed to 3.96 micrograms of chromium (VI) accumulated on the computer.  (b) Mixing Room: On or about February 16, 2023, employees and contractors were exposed to 35 micrograms of chromium (VI)accumulated on the face shield stored on top of a locker.  (c) Mixing Room: on or about February 16, 2023, employees and contractors were exposed to 105 micrograms of chromium (VI) accumulated on the top of locker.