OSHA Inspection: STONE LEAF POTTERY

Issued

2023-12-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-02-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2678.00 · Current $1750.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE):   a) Stone Leaf Pottery at 6611 W 58th Pl, Arvada, CO 80003: On or about July 27, 2023, and at times prior, employees were exposed to possible skin and eye irritation and high heat equipment that can cause burns. Employees use at least the following products that are hazardous: Hunter Chemicals Cobalt Oxide, Sigma-Aldrich Lithium carbonate, and Laguna Clay Company's MS-95 peacock glaze. These products are either eye irritants, skin irritants, or inhalation hazards. Some require certain types of gloves or eye goggles. Employees encounter other additional hazardous chemicals at this facility as well.  Employees also operate kilns at very high temperatures. The employer did not conduct a PPE assessment to evaluate the appropriate PPE to use when these hazards are present.

Issued

2023-12-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-02-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2678.00 · Current $1750.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use: (Construction Reference 1926.103)   a) 6811 West 58th Street Arvada, Colorado 80003: On our about, July 24, 2023, and at times prior, employees in the weigh out area were exposed to respirator usage hazards.  Employees wear respirators when handling several products at the weigh out station. Customers order smaller batches of dry powdered product that the employees pour in the weigh out area, including products such as but not limited to the Laguna Clay Company Silica Sand or Ground Silica (and other products that recommend either respirator usage or engineering controls e.g. good ventilation). The employer failed to provide a written respirator program to their employees who are required to wear tight-fitting 3M Half-Face respirators.

Issued

2023-12-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-02-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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: (Construction Reference 1926.103)   a) Stone Leaf Pottery at 6811 West 58th Street Arvada, Colorado 80003: On our about, July 27, 2023, and at times prior, employees in the weigh out area were exposed to respirator usage hazards.  Employees wear respirators when handling several products at the weigh out station. Customers order smaller batches of dry powdered product that the employees pour and clean up in the weigh out area, including products such as but not limited to the Laguna Clay Company Silica Sand or Ground Silica (and other products that recommend either respirator usage or engineering controls e.g. good ventilation). The employer failed to provide medical evaluations to their employees who are required to wear tight-fitting 3M Half-Face respirators.

Issued

2023-12-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-02-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator were not annually fit tested:   a) Stone Leaf Pottery at 6811 West 58th Street Arvada, Colorado 80003: On our about, July 27, 2023, and at times prior, employees in the weigh out area were exposed to respirator usage hazards.  Employees wear respirators when handling several products at the weigh out station. Customers order smaller batches of dry powdered product that the employees pour and clean up in the weigh out area, including products such as but not limited to the Laguna Clay Company Silica Sand or Ground Silica (and other products that recommend either respirator usage or engineering controls e.g. good ventilation). The employer failed to provide initial and annual fit testing to their employees who are required to wear tight-fitting 3M Half-Face respirators.

Issued

2023-12-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-02-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9013

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A): Respirators with tight-fitting facepieces were worn by employees who had facial hair that came between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interfered with valve function:  a) 6811 West 58th Street Arvada, Colorado 80003: On our about, July 24, 2023, and at times prior, an employee in the weigh out area was exposed to respirator usage hazards.  Employees wear respirators when handling several products at the weigh out station. Customers order smaller batches of dry powdered product that the employees pour in the weigh out area, including products such as but not limited to the Laguna Clay Company Silica Sand or Ground Silica (and other products that recommend either respirator usage or engineering controls e.g. good ventilation). The employer failed to ensure all employees were clean shaven while wearing a  tight-fitting 3M Half-Face, respirator in order to ensure a good seal.

Issued

2023-12-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-02-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $1500.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(f)(3):  The chemical manufacturer, importer, or distributor did not ensure that the information provided under 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(1)()(i) through 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(1)(v) was in together on the label, tag or mark:   a) Stone Leaf Pottery at 6611 W 58th Pl, Arvada, CO 80003: On or about July 27, 2023, and at times prior, employees were exposed to chemical hazards. The employer, as a distributor, did not ensure products with hazards such as inhalation hazards, skin irritation, or eye irritation were properly labelled. Containers at this shop contain products such as, but not limited to, Hunter Chemicals Cobalt Oxide, Sigma-Aldrich Lithium carbonate, and Laguna Clay MS-56 Hyacinth Glaze. The employer has employees place stickers on containers after they are mixed and sealed. However, the stickers do not address the hazards of the product  (especially those going to customers).

Issued

2023-12-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-02-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(f)(6)(ii):  Except as provided in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(7) and 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(8), the employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the 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, would provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical:   a) Stone Leaf Pottery at 6611 W 58th Pl, Arvada, CO 80003: On or about July 27, 2023, and at times prior, employees were exposed to chemical hazards. The employer did not ensure products with hazards such as inhalation hazards, skin irritation, or eye irritation were properly labelled. Containers at this shop contain products such as, but not limited to, Hunter Chemicals Cobalt Oxide, Sigma-Aldrich Lithium carbonate, and Laguna Clay MS-56 Hyacinth Glaze. The employer has employees place stickers on containers after they are mixed and sealed. However, the stickers do not address the hazards of the product.

Issued

2023-12-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-02-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(g)(7)(i): Distributors did not ensure that material safety data sheets and updated information were provided to other distributors and employers:   a) Stone Leaf Pottery at 6611 W 58th Pl, Arvada, CO 80003: On or about July 27, 2023, and at times prior, employees and other employers were exposed to chemical hazards. The employer, as a distributor, did not ensure all products had associated Safety Data Sheets. Containers at this shop contain products such as, but not limited to, Hunter Chemicals Cobalt Oxide, Sigma-Aldrich Lithium carbonate, and Laguna Clay MS-56 Hyacinth Glaze.

Issued

2023-12-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-02-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(g)(8):   The employer did not maintain in the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical, and did not ensure that they were readily accessible during each work  shift to employees when they were in their work area(s)   a) Stone Leaf Pottery at 6611 W 58th Pl, Arvada, CO 80003: On or about July 27, 2023, and at times prior, employees were exposed to chemical hazards. The employer did not ensure all chemicals had associated Safety Data Sheets on site. Containers at this shop contain products such as, but not limited to, Hunter Chemicals Cobalt Oxide, Sigma-Aldrich Lithium carbonate, and Laguna Clay MS-56 Hyacinth Glaze.

Issued

2023-12-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-02-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(1):Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:  a) Stone Leaf Pottery at 6611 W 58th Pl, Arvada, CO 80003: On or about July 27, 2023, and at times prior, employees were exposed to chemical hazards. The employer did not provide Hazardous Communication training, including Safety Data Sheet training. Employees use the following products that are hazardous: Hunter Chemicals Cobalt Oxide, Sigma-Aldrich Lithium carbonate, and laguna Clay Company's MS-56 Hyacinth Glaze.

Issued

2023-12-01 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-02-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $501.00 · Current $121.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(d)(1):The employer did not assess the exposure of each employee who was or may reasonably be expected to be exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level in accordance with either the performance option in paragraph (d)(2) or the scheduled monitoring option in paragraph (d)(3) of this section:  a) 6811 West 58th Street Arvada, Colorado 80003: On or about, July 24, 2023, and at times prior, employees in the weigh out area and in the warehouse were exposed to silica hazards due to the pouring operations required and moving large bags of product. Employees pour several products at the weigh out station to create smaller containers ordered by customers, including but not limited to the Laguna Clay Company Silica Sand or Ground Silica. The employer failed to conduct initial exposure monitoring for silica.