OSHA Inspection: WILDECK INC

Issued

Aug 4, 2023

Abate by

Aug 14, 2023

Penalty

Initial $11,953 · Current $8,367 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

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 1910.9(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:  On or about March 29, 2023, and days prior, within the Wilgard area, employees performed work on the shop floor while being exposed to noise levels that equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (dBA), or an equivalent dose of fifty percent, without a continuing and effective hearing conservation program in place. The employer failed to implement the hearing conservation program to include monitoring to identify employees for inclusion into the program, audiometric testing to provide surveillance for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), and hearing conservation training.  (a) On March 29, 2023, an employee welding in the Wilgard area was exposed to noise at 83.2% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 88.7 dBA, as measured over 480 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 88.7 dBA.  (b) On March 29, 2023, an employee welding in the Wilgard area was exposed to noise at 69.5% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 87.4 dBA as measured over 480 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 87.4 dBA.  (c) On March 29, 2023, an employee welding in the Wilgard area was exposed to noise at 70.0% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 87.4 dBA, as measured over 480 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 87.4 dBA.

Issued

Aug 4, 2023

Abate by

Aug 14, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(g)(1): The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided by 29 CFR 1910.95(g) by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:  On or about March 29, 2023, and days prior, within the Wilgard area, employees performed work on the shop floor while being exposed to noise levels that equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (dBA), or an equivalent dose of fifty percent, without a continuing and effective hearing conservation program in place. The employer failed to implement the hearing conservation program to include monitoring to identify employees for inclusion into the program, audiometric testing to provide surveillance for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), and hearing conservation training.  (a) On March 29, 2023, an employee welding in the Wilgard area was exposed to noise at 83.2% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 88.7 dBA, as measured over 480 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 88.7 dBA.  (b) On March 29, 2023, an employee welding in the Wilgard area was exposed to noise at 69.5% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 87.4 dBA as measured over 480 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 87.4 dBA.  (c) On March 29, 2023, an employee welding in the Wilgard area was exposed to noise at 70.0% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 87.4 dBA, as measured over 480 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 87.4 dBA.

Issued

Aug 4, 2023

Abate by

Aug 14, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(k)(1):The employer did not train each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k). The employer did not institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the program:  On or about March 29, 2023, and days prior, within the Wilgard area, employees performed work on the shop floor while being exposed to noise levels that equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (dBA), or an equivalent dose of fifty percent, without a continuing and effective hearing conservation program in place. The employer failed to implement the hearing conservation program to include monitoring to identify employees for inclusion into the program, audiometric testing to provide surveillance for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), and hearing conservation training.  (a) On March 29, 2023, an employee welding in the Wilgard area was exposed to noise at 83.2% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 88.7 dBA, as measured over 480 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 88.7 dBA.  (b) On March 29, 2023, an employee welding in the Wilgard area was exposed to noise at 69.5% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 87.4 dBA as measured over 480 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 87.4 dBA.  (c) On March 29, 2023, an employee welding in the Wilgard area was exposed to noise at 70.0% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 87.4 dBA, as measured over 480 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 87.4 dBA.

Issued

Aug 4, 2023

Abate by

Aug 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,122 · Current $3,585 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2587

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) On or about March 9, 2023, the employer did not establish and implement a written program to ensure that an employee engaged in welding activities and voluntarily uses a half face elastomeric respirator, did so in a way that was medically safe and that it was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user.

Issued

Aug 4, 2023

Abate by

Aug 14, 2023

Penalty

Initial $6,831 · Current $4,782 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.243(c)(1)(ii)(a): Safety guard(s) for portable abrasive wheel(s) did not cover the spindle end, and flange projections:  (a) On or about March 29, 2023, within the Wilgard area, an employee was using a Milwaukee hand grinder with a 4.5 inch diameter, 1/8 inch thick Challenger grinding disk without a safety wheel guard in place, exposing employees to struck by hazards.

Issued

Aug 4, 2023

Abate by

Aug 16, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.252(b)(2)(iii): Where the work permitted, the welder was not enclosed in an individual booth painted with a finish of low reflectivity such as zinc oxide (an important factor for absorbing ultraviolet radiations) and lamp black, or shall be enclosed with noncombustible screens similarly painted:   (a) On or about March 29, 2023, the employer failed to ensure that the welding stations, located in the Wilgard Department, were enclosed with a noncombustible or flameproof screen or shield. Employees, adjacent to the welding areas, were exposed to eye injuries from the welding rays.