OSHA Inspection: AURORA INNOVATIONS

Issued

Jan 24, 2024

Abate by

Mar 22, 2024

Penalty

Initial $11,292 · Current $7,340 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): In the workplace where respirators were necessary to protect the health of the employee or where respirators were required by the employer, the employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures including the provisions (i)-(ix) of this section, as applicable:  a) On or about August 30, 2023, at bagging production line, for the employees wearing a 3M Aura 9205+ N95 respirator while loading fertilizer. A line production employee was exposed to total dust at a time weighted average (TWA) of 39.18 mg/m3 while filling bags of soil, which is approximately 2.6 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for total dust of 15 mg/m3. The employer did not implement a worksite-specific respiratory protection program.  b) On or about July 28, 2023, at facility, for the employees wearing 3M Aura 9205+ N95 respirator working around the area while employees are loading fertilizer. The employer did not implement a worksite-specific respiratory protection program.  Abatement Note:  The Respiratory Protection Program shall include the following sections: (1) Procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace; (2) Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators; (3) Fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators; (4) Procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations; (5) Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, discarding, and otherwise maintaining respirators; (6) Procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow of breathing air for atmosphere-supplying respirators (if used); (7) Training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations; (8) Training of employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and their maintenance; and (9) Procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program.

Issued

Jan 24, 2024

Abate by

Feb 28, 2024

Penalty

Initial $11,292 · Current $7,340 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 is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:      a) On or about August 30, 2023, at bagging production line, for the employees wearing a 3M Aura 9205+ N95 respirator while loading fertilizer. A line production employee was exposed to total dust at a time weighted average (TWA) of 39.18 mg/m3 while filling bags of soil, which is approximately 2.6 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for total dust of 15 mg/m3. The employees were not provided a medical evaluation prior to being required to wear the respirator.  b) On or about July 28, 2023, at facility, for the employees wearing 3M Aura 9205+ N95 respirator working around the area while employees are loading fertilizer.  The employees were not provided a medical evaluation prior to being required to wear the respirator.

Issued

Jan 24, 2024

Abate by

Feb 28, 2024

Penalty

Initial $11,292 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2):  The employer did not ensure that employees using tight fitting face piece respirators pass an appropriate qualitative or quantitative fit test 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 August 30, 2023, at bagging production line, for the employees wearing a 3M Aura 9205+ N95 respirator while loading fertilizer. A line production employee was exposed to total dust at a time weighted average (TWA) of 39.18 mg/m3 while filling bags of soil, which is approximately 2.6 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for total dust of 15 mg/m3. The employees were not fit tested, either qualitatively or quantitatively, prior to being required to use this respirator by the employer.

Issued

Jan 24, 2024

Abate by

Mar 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $11,292 · Current $7,340 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1000(c): An employee(s) was exposed to total dust in excess of the 8-hour time weighted average limits of 15 mg/m3 listed in Table Z-3:  a)  On or about August 30, 2023, at the facility's bagging production line, a line production employee was exposed to total dust at a time weighted average (TWA) of 39.18 mg/m3 while filling bags of soil which is approximately 2.6 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for total dust of 15 mg/m3. The exposure level is calculated from samples collected over a 390-minute period; the calculations include a zero value for the 90 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Jan 24, 2024

Abate by

Apr 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):  a) On or about August 30, 2023 at the facility's bagging production line, a line production employee was exposed to total dust at a time weighted average of 39.18 mg/m3 while filling bags of soil, which is approximately 2.6 times the permissible exposure limit for total dust of 15 mg/m3. The exposure level was calculated based on samples collected over a 390-minute period; the calculations include a zero value for the 90 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Jan 24, 2024

Abate by

Mar 22, 2024

Penalty

Initial $11,292 · Current $7,340 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): Employer did not develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, material safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met, and which also includes the following:        a)  On or about August 30, 2023 at the facility, production and maintenance employees were exposed to soil blends and their components. Employer did not develop a hazard communication program.

Issued

Jan 24, 2024

Abate by

Mar 22, 2024

Penalty

Initial $11,292 · Current $0 Reduced

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)  On or about August 30, 2023 at the facility, production and maintenance employees were exposed to soil blends and their components. Employer did not train employees on hazard communication.