OSHA Inspection: EAST COAST POWDER COATING, INC.

Issued

Apr 8, 2024

Abate by

Jun 14, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,457 · Current $2,247 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 in excess of 50 ug/m3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA:   a. Sandblasting Area: On December 5, 2023, the employer exposed an employee to respirable crystalline silica at an 8-hour calculated Time Weighted Average (TWA) of 14340.6 micrograms per cubic meter of air which is 286.8 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50.0 micrograms per cubic meter of air while prepping metal materials and stones to be powder coated or shaped. Results were based on the 150-minute sampling period.

Issued

Apr 8, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  a. Sandblasting Area: On or about December 5, 2023, the employer exposed an employee to the hazards associated with respirable crystalline silica, in that the employer did not perform initial monitoring to assess the exposure for an employee that would be potentially exposed to respirable crystalline silica.

Issued

Apr 8, 2024

Abate by

Jun 14, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(e)(1):The employer did not establish a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica was, or could have been reasonably expected to be, in excess of the PEL:  a. Sandblasting Area: A sandblaster was exposed to respirable crystalline silica at a Time Weighted Average (TWA) of 14340.6 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3), 286.8 times the permissible exposure limit of 50.0 (ug/m3). The sampling was performed for 150 minutes on December 5, 2023.  The employer did not establish a regulated area.

Issued

Apr 8, 2024

Abate by

Jun 14, 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:  a. Sandblasting Area: On or about December 5, 2023, the employer exposed employees to hazards associated with respirable crystalline silica, in that the employer did not develop or implement a written exposure control plan to limit employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica.

Issued

Apr 8, 2024

Abate by

Jun 14, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(g)(2): Respiratory protection program. Where respirator use is required by this section, the employer shall institute a respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134.  29 CFR  1910.134(c)(1):A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:  a. Sandblasting Area: On or about November 29, 2023, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards, in that the employer required an employee to use a NOVA 3 respirator with supplied air without first developing and implementing a written respirator program specific to sandblasting operations.

Issued

Apr 8, 2024

Abate by

Jun 14, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  a. Sandblasting Area: On or about November 29, 2023, the employer exposed employee to respiratory hazards, in that the employer required the use of a supplied airline respirator by an employee without first providing a medical evaluation to determine if the employee was able to wear a respirator or not.   b.  Spray Booth: On or about November 29, 2023, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards, in that the employer allowed the use of tight fitting elastomeric respirators by employees without first providing a medical evaluation to determine if the employees were able to wear a respirator or not.

Issued

Apr 8, 2024

Abate by

Jun 14, 2024

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 at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year:  a. Sandblasting Area: On or about December 5, 2023, the employer exposed employees to hazards associated with respirable crystalline silica, in that the employer did not make available medical examinations to determine baseline exposure to employees that would be potentially exposed to respirable crystalline silica.

Issued

Apr 8, 2024

Abate by

Jun 14, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,457 · Current $2,247 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

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:  a. Production Area: On or about November 29, 2023, the employer exposed employees to hazardous chemicals such as but not limited to titanium dioxide, aluminum, carbon black, quartz, and crystalline silica, in that a written hazard communication program was not developed and implemented.

Issued

Apr 8, 2024

Abate by

Jun 14, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(g)(1):Employers did not have a safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they use:  a. Production Area: On or about November 29, 2023, the employer exposed employees to hazardous chemicals that include titanium dioxide, aluminum, carbon black, Quartz, and crystalline silica without maintaining safety data sheets on these chemicals as required by the standard.

Issued

Apr 8, 2024

Abate by

Jun 14, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

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. Production Area: On or about November 29, 2023, the employer exposed employees to hazardous chemicals such as but  not limited to titanium dioxide, aluminum hydroxide, quartz, and zircon without providing effective training on these hazardous chemicals

Issued

Apr 8, 2024

Abate by

Jun 14, 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 in accordance with the provisions of the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) and paragraphs (j)(3)(i)(A)-(j)(3)(i)(E) of this section.  a. Sandblasting Area: On or about December 5, 2023, the employer exposed an employee to respirable crystalline silica in that the employer failed to provide training to the employee on the health hazards associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica while sandblasting metals.