OSHA Inspection: BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

Issued

Sep 11, 2023

Abate by

Oct 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $11,162 · Current $8,930 Reduced

General-duty citation text

1910.134(f)(2)  The employer shall ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator is fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) is used, and at least annually thereafter. 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) In Cryostat Lab 0295, on or about March 16, 2023 and at times prior thereto, employees required to wear N95 respirators for protection from airborne biologicals were not medically evaluated to determine the employee's ability to use the respirator, exposing employees to physiologic stresses.

Issued

Sep 11, 2023

Abate by

Oct 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $11,162 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

1910.134(e)(1)  General. The employer shall provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace. The employer may discontinue an employee's medical evaluations when the employee is no longer required to use a respirator. 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) In Cryostat Lab 0295, on or about March 16, 2023 and at times prior thereto, employees required to wear N95 respirators for protection from airborne biologicals were not fit-tested, exposing employees to inhalation hazards.

Issued

Sep 11, 2023

Abate by

Oct 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $11,162 · Current $5,581 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

1910.1048(d)(2)  Initial monitoring. The employer shall identify all employees who may be exposed at or above the action level or at or above the STEL and accurately determine the exposure of each employee so identified. 29 CFR  1910.1048(d)(2)(ii):The initial monitoring process was not repeated each time there was a change in production, equipment, process, personnel, or control measures which could have resulted in new or additional exposure to formaldehyde:  a)  In Cryostat Lab 0295, on or about March 16, 2023 and at times prior thereto, the initial monitoring process was not repeated each time there was a change in production, equipment, process, personnel, or control measures which could result in new or additional exposure to formaldehyde, exposing employees to inhalation hazards.

Issued

Sep 11, 2023

Abate by

Oct 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $11,162 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

1910.1048(d)(2)(ii)  The initial monitoring process shall be repeated each time there is a change in production, equipment, process, personnel, or control measures which may result in new or additional exposure to formaldehyde. 29 CFR  1910.1048(d)(2)(iii):The employer received reports of signs or symptoms of respiratory or dermal conditions associated with formaldehyde exposure and the employer did not promptly monitor the affected employee's exposure:  a)  In Cryostat Lab 0295, on or about March 16, 2023 and at times prior thereto,  when the employer received reports of signs and symptoms of respiratory conditions associated with formaldehyde exposure, the employer did not promptly monitor the affected employees' exposures, exposing employees to inhalation hazards.

Issued

Sep 11, 2023

Abate by

Oct 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $11,162 · Current $5,581 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1048(f)(1): Engineering controls and work practices were not instituted to reduce and maintain employee exposures to formaldehyde at or below the TWA and the STEL:  a)  In Cryostat Lab 0295, on or about March 16, 2023 and at times prior thereto, engineering controls were not maintained to keep employee exposures to formaldehyde at or below the STEL, exposing employees to inhalation hazards.

Issued

Sep 11, 2023

Abate by

Oct 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $11,162 · Current $5,581 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1048(g)(1)(i): The employer did not provide required respirators and ensure their use by employees during the interval necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work practice controls:   (a)  In the Cryostat lab 0295, on or about March 16, 2023 and at times prior thereto, employees were exposed to inhalation hazards due to employer not providing employees with respirators to maintain exposure of hazardous substances such as but not limited to Formaldehyde below permissible exposure limits during periods necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work practice controls.

Issued

Sep 11, 2023

Abate by

Oct 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $11,162 · Current $11,162

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1048(l)(1)(i): The employer did not institute medical surveillance programs for all employees exposed to formaldehyde at concentrations at or exceeding the action level or exceeding the STEL:   a) In Cryostat Lab 0295, on or about March 16, 2023 and at times prior thereto, the employer did not institute medical surveillance programs for all employees exposed to formaldehyde at concentrations exceeding the STEL, exposing employees to inhalation hazards.

Issued

Sep 11, 2023

Abate by

Oct 5, 2023

Penalty

Initial $11,162 · Current $11,162

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1048(n)(3):The training program for all employees exposed to formaldehyde was not conducted in a manner which the employee was able to understand:  a)  In Cryostat Lab 0295, on or about March 16, 2023 and at times prior thereto, the training program did not include a discussion of 29 CFR 1910.1048; a discussion of the contents of the Safety Data Sheet for formaldehyde; the purpose for and a description of the medical surveillance program required by 29 CFR 1910.1048, including a description of the potential health hazards associated with exposure to formaldehyde and a description of the signs and symptoms of exposure to formaldehyde and instructions to immediately report to the employer the development of any adverse signs or symptoms that the employee suspects is attributable to formaldehyde exposure; an explanation of the safe work practices appropriate for limiting exposure to formaldehyde for each job; the purpose for, proper use of, and limitations of personal protective equipment; instructions for the handling of spills, emergencies, and clean-up procedures; an explanation of the importance of engineering and work practice controls for employee protection and necessary instruction in the use of these controls; and a review of emergency procedures including the specific duties or assignments of each employee in the event of an emergency, exposing employees to inhalation hazards.