OSHA Inspection: CURTIS WELDING AND FABRICATING, INC.

Issued

Mar 27, 2024

Abate by

May 1, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,687 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

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: (Construction Reference 1926.103)(a)  a) Curtis Welding and Fabricating, Inc., worksite at 61 Vanguard Dr, Reading, PA 19606 - Building 61, Rear Batch Room - On or about November 13, 2023, employees were exposed to respirable crystalline silica from cutting concrete while utilizing an EDCO propane walk-behind concrete saw indoors without respiratory protection and had not been medically cleared by a physician or other licensed healthcare professional (PLHCP). According to 29 CFR 1926.1153(c)(1)(iv), a respirator with a minimum assigned protection factor (APF) of 10 is required for tasks involving walk-behind saws when used indoors or in an enclosed area.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Mar 27, 2024

Abate by

Apr 22, 2024

Penalty

Initial $6,452 · Current $6,500

Hazardous substances 0560C730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.55(a)(2): An employee(s) was exposed to substance(s) with a permissible exposure limit not preceded by (C) at concentrations above that specified in Table 1 of �1926.55 for that substance(s):   a) Curtis Welding and Fabricating, Inc., worksite at 61 Vanguard Dr, Reading, PA 19606 - Building 61, Rear Batch Room - On or about November 13, 2023, Employee  #3 was exposed to 134.6 parts carbon monoxide (CO) per million parts of air as an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) from an EDCO propane walk-behind concrete saw used indoors with inadequate ventilation. The exposure concentration was determined by the employee's carboxyhemoglobin (%COHb) medical blood gas measurement following the employee's exposure. This level is 2.69 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 ppm. This exposure occurred over a 60 minute exposure period.  b) Curtis Welding and Fabricating, Inc., worksite at 61 Vanguard Dr, Reading, PA 19606 - Building 61, Rear Batch Room - On or about November 13, 2023, Employee  #2 was exposed to 112.7 parts carbon monoxide (CO) per million parts of air as an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) from an EDCO propane walk-behind concrete saw used indoors with inadequate ventilation. The exposure concentration was determined by the employee's carboxyhemoglobin (%COHb) medical blood gas measurement following the employee's exposure. This level is 2.25 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 ppm. This exposure occurred over a 55 minute exposure period.  c) Curtis Welding and Fabricating, Inc., worksite at 61 Vanguard Dr, Reading, PA 19606 - Building 61, Rear Batch Room - On or about November 13, 2023, Employee  #4 was exposed to 104.6 parts carbon monoxide (CO) per million parts of air as an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) from an EDCO propane walk-behind concrete saw used indoors with inadequate ventilation. The exposure concentration was determined by the employee's carboxyhemoglobin (%COHb) medical blood gas measurement following the employee's exposure. This level is 2.09 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 ppm. This exposure occurred over a 64 minute exposure period.  d) Curtis Welding and Fabricating, Inc., worksite at 61 Vanguard Dr, Reading, PA 19606 - Building 61, Rear Batch Room - On or about November 13, 2023, Employee  #1 was exposed to 98.7 parts carbon monoxide (CO) per million parts of air as an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) from an EDCO propane walk-behind concrete saw used indoors with inadequate ventilation. The exposure concentration was determined by the employee's carboxyhemoglobin (%COHb) medical blood gas measurement following the employee's exposure. This level is 1.97 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 ppm. This exposure occurred over a 64 minute exposure period.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Mar 27, 2024

Abate by

Apr 16, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0560C730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.55(b): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not implemented to reduce employee exposure(s) to a substance(s) listed in Table 1 or 2 of �1926.55:  a) Curtis Welding and Fabricating, Inc., worksite at 61 Vanguard Dr, Reading, PA 19606 - Building 61, Rear Batch Room - On or about November 13, 2023, Employee  #3 was exposed to 134.6 parts carbon monoxide (CO) per million parts of air as an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) from an EDCO propane walk-behind concrete saw used indoors with inadequate ventilation. The exposure concentration was determined by the employee's carboxyhemoglobin (%COHb) medical blood gas measurement following the employee's exposure. This level is 2.69 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 ppm. This exposure occurred over a 60 minute exposure period. Feasible engineering or administrative controls were not implemented to reduce employee exposure below established limits.  b) Curtis Welding and Fabricating, Inc., worksite at 61 Vanguard Dr, Reading, PA 19606 - Building 61, Rear Batch Room - On or about November 13, 2023, Employee  #2 was exposed to 112.7 parts carbon monoxide (CO) per million parts of air as an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) from an EDCO propane walk-behind concrete saw used indoors with inadequate ventilation. The exposure concentration was determined by the employee's carboxyhemoglobin (%COHb) medical blood gas measurement following the employee's exposure. This level is 2.25 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 ppm. This exposure occurred over a 55 minute exposure period. Feasible engineering or administrative controls were not implemented to reduce employee exposure below established limits.  c) Curtis Welding and Fabricating, Inc., worksite at 61 Vanguard Dr, Reading, PA 19606 - Building 61, Rear Batch Room - On or about November 13, 2023, Employee  #4 was exposed to 104.6 parts carbon monoxide (CO) per million parts of air as an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) from an EDCO propane walk-behind concrete saw used indoors with inadequate ventilation. The exposure concentration was determined by the employee's carboxyhemoglobin (%COHb) medical blood gas measurement following the employee's exposure. This level is 2.09 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 ppm. This exposure occurred over a 64 minute exposure period. Feasible engineering or administrative controls were not implemented to reduce employee exposure below established limits.  d) Curtis Welding and Fabricating, Inc., worksite at 61 Vanguard Dr, Reading, PA 19606 - Building 61, Rear Batch Room - On or about November 13, 2023, Employee  #1 was exposed to 98.7 parts carbon monoxide (CO) per million parts of air as an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) from an EDCO propane walk-behind concrete saw used indoors with inadequate ventilation. The exposure concentration was determined by the employee's carboxyhemoglobin (%COHb) medical blood gas measurement following the employee's exposure. This level is 1.97 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 ppm. This exposure occurred over a 64 minute exposure period. Feasible engineering or administrative controls were not implemented to reduce employee exposure below established limits.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Mar 27, 2024

Abate by

Apr 22, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,687 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1153(c)(1): For each employee engaged in a task identified on Table 1, the employer shall fully and properly implement the engineering controls, work practices, and respiratory protection specified for the task on Table 1, unless the employer assesses and limits the exposure of the employee to respirable crystalline silica in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section:  a) Curtis Welding and Fabricating, Inc., worksite at 61 Vanguard Dr, Reading, PA 19606 - Building 61, Rear Batch Room - On or about November 13, 2023, employees were exposed to respirable crystalline silica from cutting concrete while utilizing an EDCO propane walk-behind concrete saw indoors without respiratory protection and not integrating water into the water delivery system of the saw.   Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Mar 27, 2024

Abate by

Apr 16, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1153(e)(1)(i): Respiratory protection was not provided where specified by Table 1 of paragraph (c) of this section:  a) Curtis Welding and Fabricating, Inc., worksite at 61 Vanguard Dr, Reading, PA 19606 - Building 61, Rear Batch Room - On or about November 13, 2023, employees were exposed to respirable crystalline silica from cutting concrete while utilizing an EDCO propane walk-behind concrete saw indoors and respiratory protection was not provided.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.