OSHA Inspection: AL-CO PRODUCTS, INC

Issued

Mar 15, 2024

Abate by

Apr 30, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $4,610

Hazardous substances 00402280

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(2)(ii)(b)(2): The quantity of Category 2, 3 or 4 flammable liquids in containers located outside of an inside storage room or storage cabinet in a building or in any one fire area of a building exceeded 120 gallons:  a) On or about November 2, 2023, in the pouring room, the employer did not ensure that Category 3 flammable liquids not in use did not exceed 120 gallons when stored outside of storage cabinets or inside storage rooms, in that three unopened 55-gallon drums containing marble resin holding approximately 165 gallons of Category 3 liquids were stored in the area around the auto-caster.  b) On or about November 30, 2023, in the pouring room, the employer did not ensure that Category 3 flammable liquids not in use did not exceed 120 gallons when stored outside of storage cabinets or inside storage rooms in that three unopened 55-gallon drums containing acetone, gel coat and marble resin holding approximately 165 gallons of Category 3 liquids were stored in the area around the auto-caster.  c) On or about November 30, 2023, in the storage area to the east of the finishing room, the employer did not ensure that Category 3 flammable liquids not in use did not exceed 120 gallons when stored outside of storage cabinets or inside storage rooms in that six unopened 55-gallon drums containing gel coat and marble resin holding approximately 330 gallons of Category 3 liquids were stored next to pallets containing combustible materials.  Recommended abatement measures include but are not limited to: a) Design and construct and inside storage room for flammable liquids that complies with 29 CFR 1910.106(d)(4). b) Design and construct a flammable liquid warehouse or storage building unattached to the current building structure that complies with 29 CFR 1910.106(d)(5)(iv).

Issued

Mar 15, 2024

Abate by

Apr 2, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $4,610

Hazardous substances 2280

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(b)(1): The spray booth�was not�substantially constructed�of steel,�securely and�rigidly supported,�or of�concrete or�masonry.   On or about November 2, 2023, the employer did not ensure that the spray booth was substantially constructed of steel, concrete, or masonry in that a filter panel in the rear of the booth was removed and replaced with a piece of wood and covered with cardboard.

Issued

Mar 15, 2024

Abate by

Apr 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,687 · Current $3,687

Hazardous substances 228090009130

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:  a) On or about November 2, 2023, the employer had not established and implemented a written respiratory protection program for employees voluntarily using 1/2 faced elastomeric respirators when performing job tasks such as spraying gel coat on molds for vanity tops, shower pans and wall panels.   b) On or about November 2, 2023, the employer had not established and implemented a written respiratory protection program for employees voluntarily using 1/2 faced elastomeric respirators when performing job tasks such as sanding and grinding the back side of vanity tops.   Elements to be covered by the respiratory protection program include the medical evaluation process, procedures to ensure employees clean, store and maintain respirators, and providing training and information to the employees.

Issued

Mar 15, 2024

Abate by

Apr 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 228090009130

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 November 2, 2023, the employer had not provided medical evaluations to employees voluntarily permitted to wear half-faced elastomeric respirators when performing job tasks such as but not limited to spraying gel coat on molds for vanity tops, shower pans and wall panels to determine their ability to use a respirator prior to its first use in the work environment.  b) On or about November 2, 2023, the employer had not provided medical evaluations to employees voluntarily permitted to wear half-faced elastomeric respirators when performing job tasks such as but not limited to sanding and grinding the back side of vanity tops to determine their ability to use a respirator prior to its first use in the work environment.

Issued

Mar 15, 2024

Abate by

Apr 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 228090009130

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(6): The employer did not provide the basic advisory information on respirators, as presented in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, in written or oral format to employees who wear respirators when such use was not required by the employer:  a) On or about November 2, 2023, the employer had not provided employees voluntarily using 1/2 faced elastomeric respirators when performing job tasks such as but not limited to spraying gel coat on molds for vanity tops, shower pans and wall panels with the advisory information on respirators from Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134.  b) On or about November 2, 2023, the employer had not provided employees voluntarily using 1/2 faced elastomeric respirators when performing job tasks such as but not limited to sanding and grinding the back side of vanity tops with the advisory information on respirators from Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134.

Issued

Mar 15, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $4,610

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:  On or about November 2, 2023, the employer did not assess employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica during processes such as but not limited to sanding and grinding the backs of vanity tops and wall panels, cleaning dust in the work environment, and loading powdered limestone into the auto caster. Employees are potentially exposed to respiratory hazards related to respirable crystalline silica when sanding, grinding, and fabricating cultured marble products in the workplace.

Issued

Mar 15, 2024

Abate by

Apr 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(2)(i): The employer did not establish and implement a written exposure control plan that included the elements in 29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(2)(i)(A)-(C):  On or about November 2, 2023, the employer had not established a written respirable crystalline silica exposure control program which included a description of tasks that involve exposure to respirable crystalline silica, a description of engineering controls, work practices and respiratory protection used to limit employee exposure for each task and a description of housekeeping measures to limit employee exposure. Employees were exposed to respirable crystalline silica during job tasks such as  sanding and grinding cultured marble products and cleaning dust in the work environment.

Issued

Mar 15, 2024

Abate by

Apr 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $6,452 · Current $6,452

Hazardous substances 004022809000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:   On or about November 2, 2023, the employer had not developed and implemented the elements of a written hazard communication program for employees exposed to hazardous chemicals such as, but not limited to acetone, styrene, crystalline silica, and limestone which are included in marble resin, marble clear gel coat, marble elite alpha, and acetone. Employees were exposed to inhalation, contact and fire hazards that could result in health effects such as mild hearing loss, irritation to the respiratory track, skin irritation and potentially cancer.

Issued

Mar 15, 2024

Abate by

Apr 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 004022809000

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:  On or about November 2, 2023, the employer had not provided information and training on hazardous chemicals such as, but not limited to acetone, styrene, crystalline silica, and limestone which are included in marble resin, marble clear gel coat, marble elite alpha, and acetone which employees are exposed to in the manufacturing and finishing of cultured marble products. Training should cover the written hazard communication program, health hazards associated with the chemicals, methods to detect the release of hazardous chemicals, measures employees can take to protect themselves from exposure to the chemicals, and safety data sheets.

Issued

Mar 15, 2024

Abate by

Apr 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(j)(1): The employer did not ensure that each employee was trained on respirable crystalline silica in accordance with the provisions of the hazard communication standard and paragraph (j)(3) of this section:   On or about November 2, 2023, the employer did not ensure that employees were provided with training and information on the hazards of respirable crystalline silica which employees are exposed to in the finishing of cultured marble products. Training should cover health hazards associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica, work tasks that could results in employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica, methods implemented to protect employees from exposure, and the contents of 29 CFR 1910.1053.

Issued

Mar 15, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2280

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.107(b)(5)(i): There were no visible gauges, audible alarms or pressure activated devices installed in paint spray booths to indicate or ensure that the required air speed was maintained.  On or about November 2, 2023, in the pouring room, the employer did not ensure that visible gauges, audible alarms or pressure activated devices were installed in the spray booth used by employees while spraying marble clear gel coat on molds to ensure the air velocity over the open face of the booth was maintained.