OSHA Inspection: BATES METAL PRODUCTS INC

Issued

Jun 22, 2023

Abate by

Jul 12, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $7,657 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(1):The employer shall assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). If such hazards are present, or likely to be present, the employer shall:  a. On or about April 4, 2023, the employer failed to assess workplace hazards which necessitate the use of PPE in the Bus Treads department area. Employees performing gluing activities were exposed to eye and skin injuries, and other serious health hazards, when handling the glue which contained hazardous chemical ingredients, such as but not limited to, Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Cyclohexane, and Cumene Hydroperoxide. These chemicals were corrosive to the eyes and skin, and presented chronic toxicity hazards to kidneys, liver, lungs, and central nervous system.  b. On or about April 4, 2023, the employer failed to assess workplace hazards which necessitate the use of PPE in the Paint/Powder Coating department area. Employees performing painting activities were exposed to eye injuries, and other serious health hazards, when handling the powder paint which contained hazardous chemical ingredients, such as but not limited to, Barium Sulfate, Carbon Black, Polyethylene, and Amorphous Silixon Dioxide. These chemicals were corrosive to the eyes and were known or suspected carcinogens.  c. On or about April 4, 2023, the employer failed to assess workplace hazards which necessitate the use of PPE in the forklift battery servicing area. Employees adding distilled water to electrical forklift batteries were exposed to eye and face injuries due to the corrosive splash hazard presented by the Sulfuric Acid in the lead-acid electric forklift batteries.

Issued

Jun 22, 2023

Abate by

Jul 12, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(f)(1):The employer did not provide training to each employee who is required by this section to use personal protective equipment:  a. On or about April 4, 2023, the employer failed to provide training on the personal protective equipment employees were required to use when being exposed to hazardous chemicals in areas in the workplace such as, but not limited to, Bus Threads department, Powder Coating department and the forklift battery servicing area. Employees were exposed to potential skin and eye damage; and other serious health hazards while working with hazardous chemicals containing sulfuric acid, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, and barium sulfate.

Issued

Jun 22, 2023

Abate by

Jul 12, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $7,657 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.138(a):General requirements. Employers shall select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands are exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasions; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes.  a.	On or about April 4, 2023, the employer did not ensure that employees working in the Bus Treads department, performing gluing activities, used hand protection. Employees were exposed to skin injuries and other serious health hazards through skin absorption when handling glue containing chemical ingredients such as, but not limited to, Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Cyclohexane, and Cumene Hydroperoxide. These chemicals were corrosive to the skin and presented chronic toxicity hazards to kidneys, liver, lungs, and central nervous system.  b. On or about April 4, 2023, the employer did not ensure that employees working in the forklift battery servicing area used hand protection when adding distilled water to electrical forklift batteries. Employees were exposed to skin injuries due to the acid splash corrosive hazard presented by the Sulfuric Acid in the lead-acid electric forklift batteries.

Issued

Jun 22, 2023

Abate by

Jul 12, 2023

Penalty

Initial $9,376 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.133(a)(1):The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation.  a.  On or about April 4, 2023, the employer did not ensure that employees working in the Bus Treads department, performing gluing activities, used eye protection. Employees were exposed to eye injuries when handling the glue which contained chemical ingredients that were corrosive to the eyes such as, but not limited to, Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Cyclohexane, and Cumene Hydroperoxide.  b. On or about April 4, 2023, the employer did not ensure that employees working in the Paint/Powder Coating department, performing powder-paint painting activities, used eye protection. Employees were exposed to eye injuries when handling the powder paint which contained chemical ingredients that were corrosive to the eyes, such as Barium Sulfate.  c. On or about April 4, 2023, the employer did not ensure that employees working in the forklift battery servicing area used eye and face protection when adding distilled water to electrical forklift batteries. Employees were exposed to eye and face injuries due to the corrosive splash hazard presented by the Sulfuric Acid in the lead-acid electric forklift batteries.

Issued

Jun 22, 2023

Abate by

Jul 19, 2023

Penalty

Initial $6,250 · Current $4,375 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.151(c):Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use.  a. On or about April 4, 2023, employees were adding water to forklift batteries where there was a potential for acid splash to the eyes. The employer failed to provide suitable facilities, such as an eyewash, for flushing the eyes.

Issued

Jun 22, 2023

Abate by

Jul 12, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $7,657 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(f)(6)(ii): 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, will provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical.  a. On or about April 4, 2023, located in the Bus Treads department, the employer did not ensure that containers of hazardous chemicals, including the clear plastic bottles containing Oatey PVC Medium Clear Cement, were labeled, tagged or marked with general information regarding chemical hazards to provide information regarding the hazards presented by the chemicals in the glue, such as eye and skin irritation, respiratory irritation, and kidney or liver disorders.

Issued

Jun 22, 2023

Abate by

Jul 12, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,938 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(1):Employers shall 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. On or about April 4, 2023, the employer failed to provide hazard communication training to ensure that each employee exposed to hazardous chemicals in the workplace including, but not limited to, substances with hazardous chemical ingredients that were corrosive to skin and eyes such as Sulfuric Acid, Acetone, Methyl Ethyl Ketone, and Barium Sulfate, were informed on hazard recognition and exposure prevention methods.

Issued

Jun 22, 2023

Abate by

Jul 12, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(2):The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed; the date(s) of the hazard assessment; and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment.  a. On April 4, 2023, the employer failed to document and certify hazard assessment(s) performed at the workplace which necessitated the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Issued

Jun 22, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(6):Certification. The employer shall certify that each operator has been trained and evaluated as required by this paragraph (l). The certification shall include the name of the operator, the date of the training, the date of the evaluation, and the identity of the person(s) performing the training or evaluation.  a. On or about April 4, 2023, the employer failed to certify through written certification that each forklift operator had been trained and evaluated on the operation of powered industrial vehicles.