OSHA Inspection: AMERICAN MARITIME SERVICES OF NJ, INC.

Issued

Jan 22, 2024

Abate by

Feb 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $8,643 · Current $5,186 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(c)(1):The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent is applicable to employment by 1917.1(a)(2)(viii) that incorporates the General Industry requirement:  a)  Burn Out Line Torch Operator:   On or about December 14, 2023, an employee was exposed to noise dose at levels of 121.0 % (equivalent to an 8-hour time weighted average TWA of 91.3 dBA) which is 2.42 times the action level of 50% (equivalent to an 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA) while working in the containers cutting out bolts with cutting torch. Results were calculated for a 424-minute sampling period. The employer failed to administer a hearing conservation program to affected employee.  b)  Container Line:   On or about December 14, 2023, an employee was exposed to noise dose at levels of 118 % (equivalent to an 8-hour time weighted average TWA of 91.1 dBA) which is 2.36 times the action level of 50% (equivalent to an 8 -hour TWA of 85 dBA) while working in containers removing and installing wood flooring using drill, impact, and sledgehammer. Results were calculated for a 408-minute sampling period. The employer failed to administer a hearing conservation program to affected employee.  c)  Container Line:   On or about December 14, 2023, an employee was exposed to noise dose at levels of 70.5 % (equivalent to an 8-hour time weighted average TWA of 87.4 dBA) which is 1.41 times the action level of 50% (equivalent to an 8 -hour TWA of 85 dBA) while working in containers removing and installing wood flooring using drill, impact, and sledgehammer. Results were calculated for a 414-minute sampling period. The employer failed to administer a hearing conservation program to affected employee.

Issued

Jan 22, 2024

Abate by

Feb 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(d)(1):When information indicated that any employee's exposure equaled or exceed the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program is applicable to employment by 1917.1(a)(2)(viii) that incorporates the General Industry requirement:  a)  Burn Out Line Torch Operator:   On or about December 14, 2023, an employee was exposed to noise dose at levels of 121.0 % (equivalent to an 8-hour time weighted average TWA of 91.3 dBA) which is 2.42 times the action level of 50% (equivalent to an 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA) while working in the containers cutting out bolts with cutting torch. Results were calculated for a 424-minute sampling period. The employer failed to implement a monitoring program. b)  Container Line:   On or about December 14, 2023, an employee was exposed to noise dose at levels of 118 % (equivalent to an 8-hour time weighted average TWA of 91.1 dBA) which is 2.36 times the action level of 50% (equivalent to an 8 -hour TWA of 85 dBA) while working in containers removing and installing wood flooring using drill, impact, and sledgehammer. Results were calculated for a 408-minute sampling period. The employer failed to implement a monitoring program. c)  Container Line:   On or about December 14, 2023, an employee was exposed to noise dose at levels of 70.5 % (equivalent to an 8-hour time weighted average TWA of 87.4 dBA) which is 1.41 times the action level of 50% (equivalent to an 8 -hour TWA of 85 dBA) while working in containers removing and installing wood flooring using drill, impact, and sledgehammer. Results were calculated for a 414-minute sampling period. The employer failed to implement a monitoring program.

Issued

Jan 22, 2024

Abate by

Feb 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(g)(5)(i):The employer did not establish, within 6 months of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level, a valid baseline audiogram against which subsequent audiograms can be compared is applicable to employment by 1917.1(a)(2)(viii) that incorporates the General Industry requirement:  a)  Burn Out Line Torch Operator:   On or about December 14, 2023, an employee was exposed to noise dose at levels of 121.0 % (equivalent to an 8-hour time weighted average TWA of 91.3 dBA) which is 2.42 times the action level of 50% (equivalent to an 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA) while working in the containers cutting out bolts with cutting torch. Results were calculated for a 424-minute sampling period. The employer failed to provide a baseline audiometric test to the employee. b)  Container Line:   On or about December 14, 2023, an employee was exposed to noise dose at levels of 118 % (equivalent to an 8-hour time weighted average TWA of 91.1 dBA) which is 2.36 times the action level of 50% (equivalent to an 8 -hour TWA of 85 dBA) while working in containers removing and installing wood flooring using drill, impact, and sledgehammer. Results were calculated for a 408-minute sampling period. The employer failed to provide a baseline audiometric test to the employee. c)  Container Line:   On or about December 14, 2023, an employee was exposed to noise dose at levels of 70.5 % (equivalent to an 8-hour time weighted average TWA of 87.4 dBA) which is 1.41 times the action level of 50% (equivalent to an 8 -hour TWA of 85 dBA) while working in containers removing and installing wood flooring using drill, impact, and sledgehammer. Results were calculated for a 414-minute sampling period. The employer failed to provide a baseline audiometric test to the employee.

Issued

Jan 22, 2024

Abate by

Feb 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(k)(1):The employer did not train each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k) is applicable to employment by 1917.1(a)(2)(viii) that incorporates the General Industry requirement:  a)  Burn Out Line Torch Operator:   On or about December 14, 2023, an employee was exposed to noise dose at levels of 121.0 % (equivalent to an 8-hour time weighted average TWA of 91.3 dBA) which is 2.42 times the action level of 50% (equivalent to an 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA) while working in the containers cutting out bolts with cutting torch. Results were calculated for a 424-minute sampling period. The employer failed to provide a training program on noise for employee. b)  Container Line:   On or about December 14, 2023, an employee was exposed to noise dose at levels of 118 % (equivalent to an 8-hour time weighted average TWA of 91.1 dBA) which is 2.36 times the action level of 50% (equivalent to an 8 -hour TWA of 85 dBA) while working in containers removing and installing wood flooring using drill, impact, and sledgehammer. Results were calculated for a 408-minute sampling period. The employer failed to provide a training program on noise for employee. c)  Container Line:   On or about December 14, 2023, an employee was exposed to noise dose at levels of 70.5 % (equivalent to an 8-hour time weighted average TWA of 87.4 dBA) which is 1.41 times the action level of 50% (equivalent to an 8 -hour TWA of 85 dBA) while working in containers removing and installing wood flooring using drill, impact, and sledgehammer. Results were calculated for a 414-minute sampling period. The employer failed to provide a training program on noise for employee.

Issued

Jan 22, 2024

Abate by

Feb 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $5,185 · Current $3,111 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1917.151(h)(2):Belt, rope, and chain drives were not guarded to prevent employees from coming into contact with moving parts.  a)Floor saw cutting area:  On or about October 11, 2023, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to caught in and amputation hazards from unguarded belt and pulley of two wall mounted exhaust fans located four foot and six inches off the ground while conducting wood sawing work tasks.

Issued

Jan 22, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2587

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(2)(i):The employer did not determine if the voluntary use of a respirator did not in itself create a hazard is appliable to employment by 1917.1 (a)(2)(x) that incorporates the General Industry requirements.  a)	Container Repair Area:  On or about October 11, 2023, and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to inhalation hazards from welding fume during welding work tasks while providing employees tight fitting respirators and did not ensure the voluntary use of such respirator did not in itself create a hazard.

Issued

Jan 22, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2587

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(2)(ii): The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user is applicable to employment by 1917.1 (a)(2)(x) that incorporates the General Industry requirements:  a)	Container Repair Area:  On or about October 11, 2023, and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to inhalation hazards from welding fume during welding work tasks while providing employees tight fitting respirators and did not ensure implementation of elements of a written program were completed before issuing respirators.

Issued

Jan 22, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(2)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each operator had successfully completed the training consisting of a combination of formal instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material), practical training (demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee), and evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace is applicable to employment by 1917.1(a)(2)(xiv) that incorporates the General Industry requirement.   a)	Yard area: On or about November 14, 2023, and at times prior to, the employer exposed employee(s) to hazards associated with the operation of powered industrial trucks such as struck by and tip or roll over and hazards during assigned operation of PIT to punch out wood bottoms of cargo containers, lift man and generators up to mount and dismount them on refrigeration containers and to move stacks of wood flooring and did not ensure drivers completed the training required in 1910.178(l) before permitting them to use a powered industrial truck.

Issued

Jan 22, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(6): The certification did not 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 is applicable to employment by 1917.1(a)(2)(xiv) that incorporates the General Industry requirement:   a)	Yard area: On or about November 14, 2023, and at times prior to, the employer exposed employee(s) to hazards associated with the operation of powered industrial trucks such as struck by and tip or roll over and hazards during sign operational job tasks such as being lifted in man basket attached to PIT, using punch attachment on forks to remove wooden flooring in cargo containers and moving stacks of wooden flooring and did not certify that drivers had been trained and evaluated as required by paragraph (l).

Issued

Jan 22, 2024

Abate by

Feb 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A):Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure is applicable to employment by 1917.1(a)(2)(iv) that incorporates the General Industry requirement is applicable to employment by 1917.1(a)(2)(iv) that incorporates the General Industry requirement:  a)Saw area:  On or about October 11, 2023, and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to electrical hazards by allowing temporary wiring to be used as permanent wiring to provide power to a Dewalt skill saw used for cutting wooden ship container flooring in the saw area.

Issued

Jan 22, 2024

Abate by

Feb 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1)(i):The employer did not compile a list of the hazardous chemicals known to be present using a product identifier that was referenced on the appropriate safety data sheet is applicable to employment by 1917.1(a)(2)(vi) that incorporates the General Industry requirement.  a)	Facility wide:  On or about November 14, 2023, and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to chemical hazards in that employees were exposed to chemical such as but not limited to the following:  Sikaflex silicon caulk, diesel fuel and oxygen and acetylene gases.  Employees were exposed while conducting  job tasks such as cutting torch and silicon caulk application and the employer did not ensure a chemical inventory list was available at the workplace.

Issued

Jan 22, 2024

Abate by

Feb 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2150D150X100

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)	Facility wide:  On or about November 14, 2023, and at times prior to, the employer exposed employees to chemical hazards in that employees were exposed to chemical such as but not limited to the following:  Sikaflex silicon caulk, diesel fuel and oxygen and acetylene gases.  Employees were exposed while conducting  job tasks such as cutting torch and silicon caulk application and the employer did not ensure training was conducted for all employees.