OSHA Inspection: WESTERN BRONZE, INC.

Issued

Feb 27, 2024

Abate by

Apr 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,687 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 073115919000

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:  In the main foundry area and grinding room at 54 Western Avenue, West Springfield, MA:   On and before October 4, 2023, one employee was not provided a medical evaluation prior to being required to wear an N-95 filtering facepiece device respirator.

Issued

Feb 27, 2024

Abate by

May 17, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,687 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 073015919000

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:  In the main foundry area and grinding room at 54 Western Avenue, West Springfield, MA:   On and before October 4, 2023, the employer did not ensure that employees, required to use respirators, did not have facial hair which came between the sealing surface of N-95 filtering facepiece device respirators.

Issued

Feb 27, 2024

Abate by

Apr 29, 2026

Penalty

Initial $6,452 · Current $5,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(c): The employer did not ensure that no employee was exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) in excess of 50 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3), calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA):  In the main foundry area 54 Western Avenue, West Springfield, MA:   On and before October 4, 2023, the employer did not ensure that employees are not exposed to an airborne concentration of RCS in excess of 50 ug/m3 as an 8-hour TWA.  Personal air sampling results revealed that an employee was exposed to airborne RCS at an 8-hour TWA concentration of 77.24 ug/m3 during sand core mold manufacturing operations.

Issued

Feb 27, 2024

Abate by

Apr 29, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(1): The employer did not use engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) to or below the permissible exposure limit (PEL), unless the employer can demonstrate that such controls are not feasible:  In the main foundry area and grinding room at 54 Western Avenue, West Springfield, MA: On and before October 4, 2023, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that engineering controls were sufficiently used in order to maintain exposure to RCS below the PEL of 50 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). Personal air sampling results revealed that an employee was exposed to airborne RCS at 8-hour TWA concentrations of 77.24 ug/m3 during sand mold manufacturing operations.

Issued

Feb 27, 2024

Abate by

May 24, 2024

Penalty

Initial $6,452 · Current $5,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(e)(1): The employer shall establish a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is, or can reasonably be expected to be, in excess of the permissible exposure limit (PEL).  In the main foundry area 54 Western Avenue, West Springfield, MA:   On October 4, 2023, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure a regulated area was established to identify the area where employees are exposed to RCS above the PEL of 50 micrograms per cubic meter (50 ug/m3)

Issued

Feb 27, 2024

Abate by

May 24, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(e)(2)(i): The employer did not demarcate regulated areas from the rest of the workplace in a manner that minimized the number of employees exposed to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) within the regulated area:  In the main foundry area 54 Western Avenue, West Springfield, MA:   On and before October 4, 2023, the employer did not demarcate the regulated area where there is a known overexposure to RCS.  Without demarcation, administration and other employees are potentially exposed to RCS without being aware of its presence. Personal air sampling results revealed that an employee was exposed to airborne RCS at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) concentration of 77.24 ug/m3 during sand core molding operations.

Issued

Feb 27, 2024

Abate by

May 24, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(j)(2): The employer did not post signs, as required, at all entrances to regulated areas that bear the following legend:  DANGER RESPIRABLE CRYSTALLINE SILICA MAY CAUSE CANCER CAUSES DAMAGE TO LUNGS WEAR RESPIRATORY PROTECTION IN THIS AREA AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY  In the molding area in the rear of the main foundry at 54 Western Avenue, West Springfield, MA:   On October 4, 2023, and at times prior, the employer did not post signage at all entrances to the production area alerting employees of the presence of respirable crystalline silica (RCS).  Personal air sampling results revealed that an employee was exposed to airborne RCS at an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) concentration of 77.24 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) during sand molding operations.

Issued

Feb 27, 2024

Abate by

Apr 29, 2026

Penalty

Initial $6,452 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(2)(i): The employer did not establish a written exposure control plan (ECP) that covers the requirements in (f)(2)(i)(A), (B), and (C):  In the main foundry area at 54 Western Avenue, West Springfield, MA:  On and before October 4, 2023, the employer did not establish and implement a written ECP including the description of the tasks in the workplace involving exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS); a description of the engineering controls, work practices, respiratory protection used to limit employee exposure to RCS; and a description of the housekeeping measures used to limit employee exposure to RCS.

Issued

Feb 27, 2024

Abate by

Apr 29, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(i)(1)(i): The employer did not make medical surveillance available at no cost to each employee, and at a reasonable time and place, for each employee who has been occupationally exposed to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year:   In the molding area in the rear of the main foundry at 54 Western Avenue, West Springfield, MA:   On October 4, 2023, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that employees, who conduct mold fabrication, are provided an initial baseline medical examination, prior to performing such duties, and then one every three years thereafter.  Personal air sampling results revealed that an employee was exposed to airborne RCS at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) concentration of 77.24 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) during the sand molding process. The permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 50 ug/m3 as an 8-hour TWA.  ABATEMENT NOTE: The initial baseline examination shall consist of the following elements: -  Medical and work history with an emphasis on past, present, and anticipated exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS), -  A physical examination -  A chest x-ray -  A pulmonary function test to include forced vital capacity, testing for latent tuberculosis, and other tests deemed necessary by the physician or other licensed health care professional (PLHCP).  *Abatement notes are intended only to provide clarity regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies. Abatement notes do not create (or diminish) legal obligations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Issued

Feb 27, 2024

Abate by

Apr 29, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(j)(1): The employer did not include respirable crystalline silica (RCS) in the program established to comply with the hazard communication standard (HCS) (29 CFR 1910.1200). The employer did not ensure that each employee has access to labels on containers of crystalline silica and safety data sheets and is trained in accordance with the provisions of HCS and paragraph (j)(3) of this section. The employer did not ensure that at least the following hazards are addressed: Cancer, lung effects, immune system effects, and kidney effects.  In the molding area in the rear of the main foundry at 54 Western Avenue, West Springfield, MA:   On October 4, 2023, and at times prior, the employer did not include respirable RCS in the hazard communication program, post warning signs at all entrances, and provide employee information and training who were exposed to RCS dust containing between 50% and 60% silica quartz, during a sand core mold fabrication process.  Personal air sampling results revealed that an employee was exposed to airborne RCS at an 8-hour TWA concentration of 77.24 ug/m3 during sand core molding operations.

Issued

Feb 27, 2024

Abate by

Jun 7, 2024

Penalty

Initial $7,374 · Current $6,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 073015919000

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.   In the main foundry area and grinding room at 54 Western Avenue, West Springfield, MA:   On and before October 4, 2023, the employer did not ensure that eight employees, who were required to wear N-95 filtering facepiece device respirators, were provided a fit test prior to initial use and annually thereafter.   Western Bronze, Inc was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.134(f)(2), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1374387, citation number 1, item 5a, and was affirmed as a final order on August 20, 2019, with respect to a workplace located at 54 Western Ave., West Springfield, MA 01089.

Issued

Feb 27, 2024

Abate by

Apr 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $12,905 · Current $7,520 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(h)(1): All surfaces shall be maintained as free as practicable of accumulations of lead.  In the lunchroom at 54 Western Avenue, West Springfield, MA:  On and before October 4, 2023, surface wipe sample detected lead on a brown wooden table in the lunchroom which is used by employees during meal breaks.  Western Bronze, Inc was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.1025(h)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1374387, citation number 1, item 7a, and was affirmed as a final order on August 20, 2019, with respect to a workplace located at 54 Western Ave., West Springfield, MA 01089.