OSHA Inspection: POLYGLASS COATINGS LIMITED LLC

Issued

May 8, 2024

Penalty

Initial $8,067 · Current $4,700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.36(c)(1):  Each exit discharge did not lead directly outside or to a street, walkway, refuge area, public way, or open space with access to the outside.  On or about November 9, 2023, in the production area, the exit discharge from an overhead door marked as an emergency exit, did not lead to a street, walkway, refuge area, public way, or open space which exposed employees to hazards associated with emergency egress.

Issued

May 8, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.36(e)(1): A side-hinged door was not used to connect any room to an exit route:  On or about November 9, 2023, in the production area, an overhead door was marked as an emergency exit which exposed employees to hazards associated with emergency egress.

Issued

May 8, 2024

Abate by

Jan 2, 2025

Penalty

Initial $8,067 · Current $4,700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.106(d)(4)(i):  "Construction." Inside storage rooms were not constructed to meet the required fire-resistive rating for their use. Such construction did not  comply with the test specifications set forth in Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials, NFPA 251-1969. Where an automatic sprinkler system is provided, the system was not designed and installed in an acceptable manner. Openings to other rooms or buildings were not provided with noncombustible liquid-tight raised sills or ramps at least 4 inches in height, or the floor in the storage area was not at least 4 inches below the surrounding floor. Openings were not provided with approved self-closing fire doors. The room was not liquid-tight where the walls join the floor. A permissible alternate to the sill or ramp is an open-grated trench inside of the room which drains to a safe location. Where other portions of the building or other properties are exposed, windows were not protected as set forth in the Standard for Fire Doors and Windows, NFPA No. 80-1968, which is incorporated by reference as specified in Sec. 1910.6, for Class E or F openings. Wood at least 1 inch nominal thickness may be used for shelving, racks, dunnage, scuffboards, floor overlay, and similar installations.  On or about April 19, 2024, and at times prior, the following rooms used to store 55 gallon drums of flammable liquids, were open to other rooms with no approved self-closing fire doors, no raised sills or ramps at least 4 inches in height, or the floor in the storage area was not at least 4 inches below the surrounding floor, or did not have an open-grated trench inside of the room which drained to a safe location, and exposed employees to fire hazards:    a) Production room b) Raw Materials room

Issued

May 8, 2024

Abate by

Jun 26, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.106(d)(4)(v):  In every inside storage room there was not maintained one clear aisle at least 3 feet wide. Containers over 30 gallons capacity shall not be stacked one upon the other. Dispensing was not by an approved pump or self-closing faucet only.  On or about April 19, 2024, and at times prior, at the raw materials storage area, 55 gallon drums of F-14, Alfa Kimya Alfakyd X35T60 Resin, a category 2 flammable liquid, were stored one drum on top of another drum and exposed employees to fire hazards.

Issued

May 8, 2024

Abate by

Jun 26, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.106(d)(5)(i): Flammable liquids, including stock for sale, were not be stored so as to limit use of exits, stairways, or areas normally used for the safe egress of people.   On or about November 9, 2023, at the production area, drums of flammable liquids were stored along the following exit routes and this exposed employees to hazards associated with emergency egress:  a.)  Exit route to an emergency exit door that discharged to the front parking lot.  b.)  Exit route that lead to a stair case to the lower floor of  the building.

Issued

May 8, 2024

Abate by

Jun 4, 2024

Penalty

Initial $8,067 · Current $4,700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.106(e)(6)(ii): Category 1 or 2 flammable liquids, or Category 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100 �F (37.8 �C), were dispensed into containers without the nozzle and container being electrically interconnected.   a)  On or about April 10, 2024 and at times prior there to, in the production area, employees transferred category 1 and 3 flammable liquids with flashpoints below 100 degrees F and the source piping or containers and the receiving containers or process equipment were not electrically interconnected and grounded to prevent ignition of flammable vapors as follows:      1.  Piping that dispensed acetone and a bucket which received acetone.       2.  Bucket that dispensed acetone and paint mixer bowl which received acetone.        3.  55 gallon drum that dispensed Setyrene 13-2434 and buckets which received Setyrene 13-2434.        4.  Buckets that dispensed Setyrene 13-2434 and a paint mixer bowl which received Setyrene 13-2434.   b) On or about March 6, 2024 and at times prior there to, in the production area, employees transferred category 2 flammable liquid with a flashpoint below 100 degrees F and the source containers and the receiving container or process equipment were not electrically interconnected and grounded to prevent ignition of flammable vapors as follows:    1.  A container that dispensed Clear Foamcoat and a paint mixer bowl which received Clear Foamcoat.      2.  55 gallon drums that dispensed Clear Foamcoat and a paint mixer bowl which received Clear Foamcoat.

Issued

May 8, 2024

Abate by

Oct 1, 2024

Penalty

Initial $11,292 · Current $6,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.106(h)(4)(iii)(a): The transfer of large quantities of flammable liquids was not through piping by means of pumps or water displacement.  Except as required in process equipment, gravity flow shall not be used. The use of compressed air as a transferring medium is prohibited.  a) On or about April 10, 2024 and at times prior there to, in the production area, employees did gravity flow transfers of flammable liquids as follows which exposes employees to fire hazards associated with flammable liquids:     1.  Drawn from pipe valves by gravity into buckets,    2.  Manual pouring of flammable liquid from buckets to paint mixer bowls,    3.  Manual pouring of flammable liquid from buckets to an SW Mill,     4.  Drawn from a 55 gallon drum laid on its side, through a drum faucet by gravity flow to a bucket.     b) On or about March 6, 2024 and at times prior there to, in the production area, employees did gravity flow transfers of flammable liquids as follows which exposes employees to fire hazards associated with flammable liquids::    1.  Manual dipping of a transfer container into a 55 gallon drum of flammable liquid,    2.  Manual  pouring of flammable liquid from a transfer container into a paint mixer bowl,    3.  Manual pouring of flammable liquid from 55 gallon drums to a paint mixer bowl.

Issued

May 8, 2024

Abate by

Aug 1, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,839 · Current $2,900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(a):  Protective equipment was not used when necessary whenever hazards capable of causing injury and impairment were encountered:  On or about March 6, 2024, at the production floor, protective clothing was not worn by employees who did pouring, mixing, and cleaning of hazardous chemicals during paint manufacturing which exposes employees to spills and splashes of hazardous chemicals.

Issued

May 8, 2024

Abate by

Jun 4, 2024

Penalty

Initial $6,453 · Current $3,700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form:  On or about November 9, 2023, production area, a reasonable estimate of the employee exposure to respiratory hazards was not done for employees who were required to wear respirators for the manufacture of paints which exposes employees to respiratory hazards.

Issued

May 8, 2024

Abate by

Jun 4, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(d)(3)(iii)(B)(2):The employer did not implement a change schedule for respirators not equipped with an End of Service Life Indicator that would ensure cartridges were changed before the end of their service life:  On or about November 9, 2023, at the production floor, a respirator cartridge change schedule based on objective data was not implemented for employees who were required to wear half mask respirators with respirator cartridges during paint manufacturing which exposes employees to respiratory hazards.

Issued

May 8, 2024

Abate by

Jun 21, 2024

Penalty

Initial $6,453 · Current $3,700 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 was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:  On or about November 9, 2023, at the production floor, employees were required to wear tight-fitting elastomeric half mask respirators during paint manufacturing and medical evaluations for respirator use were not provided.  Employees were exposed to respiratory hazards.

Issued

May 8, 2024

Abate by

Jun 21, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(1): The employer did not ensure that employee(s) required to use a tight-fitting facepiece respirator passed the appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT):   On or about November 9, 2023, at the production floor, employees were required to wear tight-fitting elastomeric half mask respirators during paint manufacturing and were not provided with respirator fit testing.  Employees were exposed to respiratory hazards.

Issued

May 8, 2024

Abate by

Jun 4, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  On or about 3/6/2024, at the production floor, an employee had facial hair between the sealing surface of the tight-fitting half mask respirator facepiece and the face.  Employees were required to wear half mask air purifying respirators during paint manufacturing which exposes employees to respiratory hazards.

Issued

May 8, 2024

Abate by

Jun 4, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(g)(1)(i)(B): Respirators with tight-fitting facepieces were worn by employees with a condition that interfered with the face-to-facepiece seal or valve function:   On or about 3/6/2024 and at times thereafter, at the production floor, an employee wore a piece of cloth between the sealing surface of the tight-fitting half mask respirator facepiece and the face.  Employees were required to wear half mask air purifying respirators during paint manufacturing which exposes employees to respiratory hazards.

Issued

May 8, 2024

Abate by

Jun 4, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(k): The employer did not provide comprehensive, understandable training which occurred annually and/or more often if necessary:  On or about November 9, 2023, at the production area, employees were required to wear tight-fitting half mask respirators during paint manufacturing operations and were not knowledgeable of fit testing requirements, requirements for medical evaluations, the limitations and capabilities of respirators, and how to properly inspect the respirators.

Issued

May 8, 2024

Abate by

Jun 4, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(g)(2)(viii): The chemical manufacturer or importer preparing the safety data sheet did not ensure that it included Section 8, Exposure controls/personal:  On or about November 9, 2023, the manufacturer Crown Paint Company, did not ensure that the safety data sheet included the OSHA PEL for different isomers of xylene.