OSHA Inspection: AMTECH YARNS, INC.

Issued

Mar 28, 2023

Abate by

Feb 15, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,572 · Current $1,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(3)(i): The employer did not ensure each employee is protected from falling through any hole (including skylights) that is 4 feet (1.2 m) or more above a lower level by one or more of the following: covers, guardrail systems, travel restraint systems, or personal fall arrest systems, as required by sub-items A through D of this section.  a) The Chimney, AmTech Yarns, Inc, 21 Trade Drive Massena, NY 13662, on or about 1/4/23:  Employees were not protected from falling into the Chimney on the second floor of the process. A top rail is provided, but no mid-rail is provided for the fall hazard.  Abatement certification is required.

Issued

Mar 28, 2023

Abate by

Feb 15, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

1910.146(c)(7)(iii)  The employer shall document the basis for determining that all hazards in a permit space have been eliminated, through a certification that contains the date, the location of the space, and the signature of the person making the determination. The certification shall be made available to each employee entering the space or to that employee's authorized representative. 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(1): The employer did not evaluate the workplace to determine if any spaces were permit-required confined spaces:  a) The Chimney, AmTech Yarns, Inc, 21 Trade Drive Massena, NY 13662, on or about 1/4/23, The employer did not evaluate the chimney to determine if it was a permit required confined spaced. Employees are required to break the plane of the chimney to conduct cleaning and to perform die wipes.  Abatement certification is required.

Issued

Mar 28, 2023

Abate by

Feb 15, 2024

Penalty

Initial $5,358 · Current $3,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): A continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (n) was not instituted when employee noise exposures equaled or exceeded an 8 hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 dBA:  a) AmTech Yarns, Inc, 21 Trade Drive Massena, NY 13662, Process Area, on or about 1/18/23: An operator,  operating the nylon extrusion processing equipment was exposed to continuous noise at a level of 82.3% of the dose of the OSHA permissible exposure limit. The equivalent dBA for the 82.3% dose is approximately 88.6 dBA calculated as the 8-hour time weighted sound pressure level. The sampling was conducted on 1/18/23 for 472 minutes. Employee was wearing body guard ear plugs. Employer does not have hearing conservation program implemented.   b) AmTech Yarns, Inc, 21 Trade Drive Massena, NY 13662, Process Area, on or about 1/18/23: A lead hand,  operating the nylon extrusion processing equipment was exposed to continuous noise at a level of 110.0% of the dose of the OSHA permissible exposure limit. The equivalent dBA for the 110.0% dose is approximately 90.7 dBA calculated as the 8-hour time weighted sound pressure level. The sampling was conducted on 1/18/23 for 476 minutes. Employee was wearing body guard ear plugs. Employer does not have hearing conservation program implemented.   Abatement methodology:  Step 1: An effective hearing conservation program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (n) shall be maintained. An effective hearing conservation program shall include, at a minimum:  (1) A baseline audiogram for all employees exposed to noise levels equal to or in excess of the standard. (2) Annual audiograms for each overexposed employee. (3) Analysis of audiogram results with retesting and/or referral to an otolaryngologist or qualified physician when a significant threshold shift occurs. A significant shift will be considered to be equal to or greater than an average of 30 dba over the 2000, 3000, and 4000 hertz frequencies. (4) Where insert ear plugs or custom-molded devices are utilized, individual employee fitting shall be conducted by a trained person, and employees shall be instructed in the care and use of the devices.

Issued

Mar 28, 2023

Abate by

Feb 15, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,572 · Current $1,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(1): The employer did not establish a program consisting of an energy control procedure, employee training and periodic inspections to ensure that before any employee performed any servicing or maintenance on a machine or equipment where the unexpected energizing, startup or release of stored energy could occur and cause injury, the machine or equipment shall be isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative:  a) The Chimney, AmTech Yarns, Inc, 21 Trade Drive Massena, NY 13662, on or about 12/28/22: The employer permitted servicing and maintenance activities on equipment including, but not limited to, cleaning the chute of the chimney while the process was actively running, without establishing a lockout/logout program inclusive of written energy control procedures, employee training, and periodic inspections, to prevent serious injuries from the unexpected energizing, start up or release of stored energy of the equipment.  Abatement certification is required.

Issued

Mar 28, 2023

Abate by

Feb 15, 2024

Penalty

Initial $893 · Current $100 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1904.40(a): The employer did not provide an authorized government representative the records within the four business hours.  a) AmTech Yarns, Inc, 21 Trade Drive Massena, NY 13662, on or about 1/4/23, the employer did not provide the agency with its injury and illness logs within four business hours of its request.  Abatement certification is required.