OSHA Inspection: BUFFALO ENGINE COMPONENTS INC.

Issued

Mar 3, 2023

Abate by

Apr 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $12,055 · Current $8,000 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 1910.95(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) Didion area - A Laborer, operating the Didion, was exposed to continuous noise at approximately 243% of the permissible daily noise level (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 97.9 dBA during the 392 minute sampling period on December 2, 2022; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 88  minutes not sampled. The employer neither developed nor implemented a hearing conservation program.  b) Didion area - A Laborer, operating the Didion, was exposed to continuous noise at approximately 288% of the permissible daily noise level (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 99.1 dBA during the 394 minute sampling period on December 2, 2022; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 86  minutes not sampled.  The employer neither developed nor implemented a hearing conservation program.  The major elements of a continuing, effective hearing conservation program consist of the following (for more details consult 29 CFR 1910.95): 1.  Noise exposure monitoring (sound level measurement, noise dosimetry) 2.  Employee notification and observation of monitoring 3.  Audiometric testing program 4.  Hearing protection 5.  Employee training program 6.  Employee access to information and training materials, and 7.  Recordkeeping   ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Mar 3, 2023

Abate by

Apr 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $12,055 · Current $8,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c): The employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program with required worksite-specific procedures and elements for required respirator use:  a) Didion Area - On or about 11/16/2022, employees were required by the employer to wear half-mask negative pressure, air-purifying respirators while loading and unloading the Didion Machine.  The employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program with required worksite-specific procedures and elements for required respirator use including selection, medical evaluation, fit-testing, training, and inspection.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Mar 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  Note:  The employer may discontinue an employee's medical evaluations when the employee is no longer required to use a respirator.  a) Didion Area - On or about 11/16/2022, employees were required by the employer to wear half-mask air-purifying respirators while loading and unloading the Didion Machine.  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.   NO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Mar 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  a)  Didion Area - On or about 11/16/2022, employees were required by the employer to wear half-mask air-purifying respirators while loading and unloading the Didion.   Employee(s) were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator.   NO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Mar 3, 2023

Abate by

Apr 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(3): Training was not provided prior to requiring employees to use a respirator in the workplace:  a) Didion Area - On or about 11/16/2022, employees were required by the employer to wear half-mask air-purifying respirators while loading and unloading the Didion.   Training was not provided prior to requiring employees to use a respirator in the workplace.   Employer shall ensure each employee can demonstrate knowledge of at least the following:        * Why the respirator is necessary and how improper fit, usage, or maintenance can compromise the protective effect of the respirator;        * What the limitations and capabilities of the respirator are;        * How to use the respirator effectively in emergency situations, including situations in which the respirator malfunctions;        * How to inspect, put on and remove, use, and check the seals of the respirator;        * What the procedures are for maintenance and storage of the respirator;         * How to recognize medical signs and symptoms that may limit or prevent the effective use of respirators; and the general requirements of this section.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Mar 3, 2023

Abate by

Apr 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,046 · Current $6,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l): Operators were not trained in the safe operation of powered industrial trucks:  a) Throughout Facility - On or about 11/16/22, employees were observed operating powered industrial trucks without using the seatbelt provided.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Mar 3, 2023

Abate by

Mar 13, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1904.30(a): The employer did not keep a separate OSHA 300 log for each establishment:  a) Office - On or about 11/16/22 - the  OSHA 300 log for 2022 had injuries recorded on it for the Lathrop Street location and the Fillmore Street location.  Separate logs were not maintained.