OSHA Inspection: VOESTALPINE PRECISION STRIP WI., INC

Issued

Sep 27, 2023

Penalty

Initial $11,050 · Current $6,630 Reduced

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) On or about July 31, 2023, the employer did not provide a medical evaluation to all employees that were required to wear a respirator.

Issued

Sep 27, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  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.  a)On or about July 31, 2023, the employer failed to ensure all employees using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator were fit tested prior to initial use, whenever a different respirator is used, and at least annually.

Issued

Sep 27, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,469 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1025(d)(2): An initial determination was not made to determine if any employee may be exposed to lead at or above the action level.  On or about July 31, 2023, the employer failed to implement a procedure to monitor which employees were exposed to lead at or above the action level of 30 micrograms per cubic meter of air.  a) On July 31, 2023, an employee tasked with performing cleaning and maintenance duties on lead contaminated machines was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average of 61.8 micrograms per cubic meter (�g/m^3) for lead, approximately 1.2 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter (�g/m^3).  The exposure level was derived from a sample collected over a 382 minute sampling period, with zero exposure assumed for the remaining 98 minutes.

Issued

Sep 27, 2023

Abate by

Jan 8, 2024

Penalty

Initial $15,469 · Current $9,281 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1025(c)(1):Employee(s) were exposed to lead at concentrations greater than fifty micrograms per cubic meter of air averaged over an eight-hour period.  On or about July 31, 2023, and days prior, employees performed cleaning and maintenance duties on lead contaminated machines while being exposed to lead above the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter (�g/m^3).  a) On July 31, 2023, an employee tasked with performing cleaning and maintenance duties on lead contaminated machines was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average of 61.8 micrograms per cubic meter (�g/m^3) for lead, approximately 1.2 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter (�g/m^3).  The exposure level was derived from a sample collected over a 382 minute sampling period, with zero exposure assumed for the remaining 98 minutes.  b) On July 31, 2023, an employee tasked with performing cleaning and maintenance duties on lead contaminated machines was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average of 53.6 micrograms per cubic meter (�g/m^3) for lead, approximately 1.06 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter (�g/m^3).  The exposure level was derived from a sample collected over a 418 minute sampling period, with zero exposure assumed for the remaining 62 minutes.  c) On July 31, 2023, an employee tasked with performing cleaning and maintenance duties on lead contaminated machines was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average of 83.2 micrograms per cubic meter (�g/m^3) for lead, approximately 1.664 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter (�g/m^3).  The exposure level was derived from a sample collected over a 257 minute sampling period, with zero exposure assumed for the remaining 223 minutes.  d) On July 31, 2023, an employee tasked with performing cleaning and maintenance duties on lead contaminated machines was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average of 361.8 micrograms per cubic meter (�g/m^3) for lead, approximately 7.236 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter (�g/m^3).  The exposure level was derived from a sample collected over a 409 minute sampling period, with zero exposure assumed for the remaining 71 minutes.

Issued

Sep 27, 2023

Abate by

Jan 8, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1025(e)(3)(i):The employer did not establish and implement a written compliance program to reduce exposures to or below the permissible exposure limit, solely by means of engineering and work practice controls.  On or about July 31, 2023, and days prior, employees were exposed to lead above the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter (�g/m^3).  The employer failed to establish and implement controls to reduce exposure levels to lead below the permissible exposure limit while employees were performing required cleaning and maintenance duties on lead contaminated machines.    a) On July 31, 2023, an employee tasked with performing cleaning and maintenance duties on lead contaminated machines was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average of 61.8 micrograms per cubic meter (�g/m^3) for lead, approximately 1.2 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter (�g/m^3).  The exposure level was derived from a sample collected over a 382 minute sampling period, with zero exposure assumed for the remaining 98 minutes.  b) On July 31, 2023, an employee tasked with performing cleaning and maintenance duties on lead contaminated machines was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average of 53.6 micrograms per cubic meter (�g/m^3) for lead, approximately 1.06 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter (�g/m^3).  The exposure level was derived from a sample collected over a 418 minute sampling period, with zero exposure assumed for the remaining 62 minutes.  c) On July 31, 2023, an employee tasked with performing cleaning and maintenance duties on lead contaminated machines was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average of 83.2 micrograms per cubic meter (�g/m^3) for lead, approximately 1.664 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter (�g/m^3).  The exposure level was derived from a sample collected over a 257 minute sampling period, with zero exposure assumed for the remaining 223 minutes.  d) On July 31, 2023, an employee tasked with performing cleaning and maintenance duties on lead contaminated machines was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average of 361.8 micrograms per cubic meter (�g/m^3) for lead, approximately 7.236 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter (�g/m^3).  The exposure level was derived from a sample collected over a 409 minute sampling period, with zero exposure assumed for the remaining 71 minutes.

Issued

Sep 27, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1025(j)(1)(i):   The employer did not institute a medical surveillance program for all employees who are or may be exposed at or above the action level for more than 30 days per year:   On or about July 31, 2023, the employer failed to establish a medical surveillance program for all employees who are or may be exposed to lead at or above the action level of 30 micrograms per cubic meter of air for more than 30 days per year.  a) On July 31, 2023, an employee tasked with performing cleaning and maintenance duties on lead contaminated machines was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average of 61.8 micrograms per cubic meter (�g/m^3) for lead, approximately 1.2 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter (�g/m^3).  The exposure level was derived from a sample collected over a 382 minute sampling period, with zero exposure assumed for the remaining 98 minutes.

Issued

Sep 27, 2023

Abate by

Nov 15, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,469 · Current $2,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1025(h)(2)(ii):Shoveling, sweeping or brushing methods were used to remove lead accumulations where vacuuming or other equally effective methods were available and feasible.  a) On May 10, 2023, and days prior employees working on the lead side of the warehouse utilized a broom to sweep the area clear of particles, this exposed employees to airborne exposure to lead.

Issued

Sep 27, 2023

Abate by

Nov 15, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $2,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1026(l)(1)(iii):The employer did not include Hexavalent Chromium in the hazard communication program established to comply with the HCS (� 1910.1200). The employer did not train employees in accordance with the requirements of the hazard communication standard and paragraph (l)(2) of this section.  a) On or about May 10, 2023, the employer failed to include Hexavalent Chromium in their hazard communication program.  The employer failed to ensure employees exposed to Hexavalent Chromium were provided with the required information and training per the requirements of the hazard communication standard and paragraph (l)(2) of this section.