OSHA Inspection: UNICAST INC.

Issued

Jun 15, 2023

Abate by

Jul 13, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,813 · Current $3,907 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding was not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:  a) Unicast - On or about January 26, 2023,  employees were exposed to in running nip points while operating the pigment pump on the pigment pump cart.  The rotating gears of this hazard exposed the employee to amputation and/or crush hazards.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jun 15, 2023

Abate by

Jul 13, 2023

Penalty

Initial $4,687 · Current $2,344 Reduced

Hazardous substances T177

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) Unicast - On or about December 22, 2022,  employees were wearing a half-face elastomeric respirator to protect against isocyanates vapors while using Imuthane during the pouring of liquid urethanes.   The employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program which covered the minimum  requirements under this paragraph.     Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jun 15, 2023

Abate by

Jul 13, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances T177

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) Unicast - On or about December 22, 2022,  employees were wearing a half-face elastomeric respirator to protect from isocyanates vapors while using Imuthane during pouring of liquid urethanes.   The employer did not provide medical evaluations as required.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jun 15, 2023

Abate by

Jul 13, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances T177

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(k): The employer did not provide comprehensive, understandable training which did not occur annually and/or more often if necessary:   a) Unicast - On or about December 22, 2022,  employees were wearing a half-face elastomeric respirator to protect from isocyanates vapors while using Imuthane during pouring of liquid urethanes, and the employer did not provide training for voluntary elastomeric respirator use, to cover at a minimum, medical evaluations, limitations, cartridge change out, cleaning, and storage.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jun 15, 2023

Abate by

Jul 13, 2023

Penalty

Initial $7,813 · Current $3,907 Reduced

Hazardous substances 10732470

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) Unicast - On or about December 22, 2022, employees were exposed to hazardous chemicals, such as but not limited to, Imuthanes that contain diisocyanates, and the employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program in accordance with this section.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.    ABATEMENT NOTE: A written program shall include descriptions of how the criteria for the following will be met: 1.  Labeling, pictograms, and other forms of warning; 2.  Safety Data Sheets; 3.  Employee information and training.    Additionally, a list of hazardous chemicals known to be present in the workplace must be compiled.  Methods used to inform employees of the hazards associated with non-routine tasks and the informing of contractors of workplace hazards, including a description of the labeling system used in the facility and of the availability of material safety data sheets, must also be addressed.  The written program must be made available upon request.

Issued

Jun 15, 2023

Abate by

Jul 13, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 16602140

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(f)(6)(ii):  Except as provided in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(7) and 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(8), the employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals and which, in conjunction with the other information immediately available to employees under the hazard communication program, would provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical:   a) Unicast - On or about December 22, 2022, employees were utilizing various hazardous chemicals, such as but not limited to, silicone and Dynasolve, out of unlabeled plastic spray bottles and quart cans  The employer did not ensure that these containers were properly labeled in accordance with this section.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jun 15, 2023

Abate by

Jul 13, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 10732470

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(g)(8):   The employer did not ensure that Safety Data Sheets were readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they were in their work area(s)    a) Unicast - On or about December 22, 2022, employees were exposed to hazardous chemicals, such as but not limited to, Imuthanes that contain diisocyanates, and the employer did not ensure that Safety Data Sheets were readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they were in their work area(s), nor did the employer have an electronic means for employees to readily access SDSs for the chemicals in use.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jun 15, 2023

Abate by

Jul 13, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(1): The employer did not provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new chemical hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area. Information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards (e.g., flammability, carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and safety data sheets.   a) Unicast - On or about December 22, 2022, employees were exposed to hazardous chemicals, such as but not limited to, Imuthanes that contain diisocyanates, and the employer did not provide information and training on chemical hazards to include SDSs, pictograms, labeling, and the health and safety precautions of the chemicals.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.    ABATEMENT NOTE: Employees shall be informed of the following: 1. The requirements of this section; 2. Any operations where hazardous chemicals are present; 3. The location and availability of the written Hazard Communication Program, list(s) of hazardous chemicals and Safety Data Sheets.    Employee training shall include at least: 1. Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of hazardous chemical in the work area. 2. The physical, health, simple asphyxiation, combustible dust, and pyrophoric gas hazards, as well as hazards not otherwise classified, of the chemicals in the work area. 3. The measures employees can take to protect themselves, such as specific procedures and personal protective equipment to be used. 4. The details of the employer's Hazard Communication Program including an explanation of the labels received on shipped containers and the workplace labeling system used by the employer; Pictograms, Safety Data Sheets, including the order of information and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information.