OSHA Inspection: VIBRACOUSTIC USA, INC. / VIBRACOUSTIC NORTH AMERICA, L.P., LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

Issued

May 19, 2023

Abate by

Dec 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $15,625

Hazardous substances N119

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer failed to keep the workplace free from recognized hazards that were causing or were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees working in the batch making area were exposed to the hazard of  1,5-Naphthalene diisocyanate (NDI) which can cause serious adverse health effects such as skin sensitization, and respiratory irritation and sensitization, including occupational asthma.   Location: Batch making Torit room  On December 8, 2022, a batch maker working in the Torit room was exposed to NDI.  Exposures occurred via inhalation at concentrations of 0.34861 and 0.223394 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3), which exceeded the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Ceiling Recommended Exposure Limit (REL-ceiling) of 0.170 mg/m3.

Issued

May 19, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $10,937 Reduced

Hazardous substances N119

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):  a. Location: batch making, assembly, and inspection areas  On or about November 21, 2022, employees were exposed to dermal contact of isocyanates that is known to result in occupational asthma and respiratory and skin sensitization/irritation.  The employer did not assess all work surfaces including molded parts to determine that an isocyanate hazard was present requiring the use of chemical protective gloves.  b. Location: line 7  On or about January 30, 2023, the employer did not assess burn hazards on line 7 where employees were removing faulty molds from the curing oven running at 90-109 degrees Celsius, and were not required to wear arm protection.

Issued

May 19, 2023

Penalty

Initial $14,733 · Current $15,625

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:  Location: Batch making Torit room and mezzanine weigh area  On or about November 21, 2022, employees required to wear a full face respirator were not provided with a medical evaluation prior to being fit tested and required to wear a respirator.

Issued

May 19, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator were not annually fit tested:  Location: Batch making  On or about November 21, 2022, batch making and maintenance employees were exposed to respiratory hazards from isocyanates that are known to cause respiratory sensitization and occupational asthma when they wore North 7600A full face respirators and had not been fit tested within the prior year.  OSHA air sampling on December 8, 2022 showed a batch making employee exposed to 1,5-Naphthalene diisocyanate (NDI) at concentration exceeding the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level (REL) Ceiling in a 10-minute sample.

Issued

May 19, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $0 Reduced

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:  Location: Batch making  On or about December 8, 2022, a batch making employee was exposed to respiratory hazards from isocyanates that are known to cause respiratory sensitization and occupational asthma when they wore a North 7600A full face respirator and had a beard that came between the sealing surface of the respirator and the face.  OSHA air sampling on December 8, 2022, showed a batch making employee exposed to 1,5-Naphthalene diisocyanate (NDI) at concentration exceeding the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level (REL) Ceiling in a 10-minute sample.

Issued

May 19, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $0 Reduced

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:  Location: Batch making  On or about November 21, 2022, employees were exposed to respiratory hazards from isocyanates that are known to cause respiratory sensitization and occupational asthma when they wore North 7600A full face respirators that had been stored unprotected in lockers contaminated by isocyanates.  OSHA wipe samples conducted using SKC Surface SWYPEs for Aromatic Isocyanates (769-1022) resulted in a  positive swipe sample for aromatic isocyanates on the interior of an employee storage locker where they stored their respirator on the locker's surface.

Issued

May 19, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k): The employer did not provide comprehensive, understandable, and effective annual training to employees who were required to use respirators:    Location: batch making  On or about November 21, 2022, batch making, maintenance, and management level employees were exposed to respiratory hazards from isocyanates that are known to cause respiratory sensitization and occupational asthma when they wore North 7600A full face respirator and had not received training on the use, limitations, inspection, maintenance, and storage of the respirator.  OSHA air sampling on December 8, 2022, showed a batch making employee exposed to 1,5-Naphthalene diisocyanate (NDI) at concentration exceeding the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Level (REL) Ceiling in a 10-minute sample.

Issued

May 19, 2023

Abate by

Dec 1, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $7,812 Reduced

Hazardous substances N119

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.141(a)(3)(i): Places of employment were not kept clean to the extent that the nature of the work allowed:  Location: Batch area  a. On or about November 21, 2022, employees were exposed to dermal contact and inhalation of isocyanates that is known to result in occupational asthma and respiratory and skin sensitization/irritation.  The surfaces in the batch making area including floors and other horizontal surfaces in the Torit room and mezzanine weigh area, interior of lockers, and control panels and adjacent work surfaces were not kept free of surface isocyanate contamination.  Sampling conducted by OSHA on November 21, 2022, using SKC Surface SWYPEs for Aromatic Isocyanates (769-1022) detected isocyanate contamination on these work surfaces in the batch making area.   Location: Production Lines 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, and 11.  b. On or about November 21, 2022, employees were exposed to dermal contact of isocyanates that is known to result in occupational asthma and respiratory and skin sensitization/irritation.  The surfaces on the molding lines including floors, operator workstations, and metal surfaces around the molds were not kept free of surface isocyanate contamination.  Sampling conducted by OSHA on November 21, 2022, and February 28, 2023, using SKC Surface SWYPEs for Aromatic Isocyanates (769-1022) detected isocyanate contamination on these work surfaces on lines 3, 5, and 8.

Issued

May 19, 2023

Penalty

Initial $156,259 · Current $109,381 Reduced

Hazardous substances N119

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.138(a): The employer did not select and require employee(s) to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands were exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasion; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes:  Location: batch making, assembly, and inspection areas  On or about November 21, 2022, employees were exposed to dermal contact with isocyanates.  Such contact is known to result in occupational asthma and respiratory and skin sensitization/ irritation.  The employer did not require employees to wear chemical resistant gloves while touching work surfaces and parts contaminated with unreacted isocyanate.