OSHA Inspection: PRECIOUS METALS RECOVERY, LLC

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2765.00 · Current $1600.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 064014301860

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): An effective 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) On or about December 20, 2023, and at times prior, the employer had not established a written respiratory protection program. The employer required and provided half-face and full-face respirators but had not evaluated respiratory hazards in the workplace, provided medical evaluations prior to respirator use, provided respirator fit tests, and did not prohibit employees with facial hair that would impede the sealing surface of the respirator from wearing a respirator. Employees were observed handling chemicals with respiratory hazards including, but not limited to, pouring and mixing hydrochloric acid and nitric acid, as well as adding Textrone (Sodium Chlorite) to the reactor vessel.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 064014301860

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(i): Selection of appropriate respirators was not based on the respiratory hazard(s) to which the worker was exposed and user factors that affect respirator performance and reliability:  a) On or about December 20, 2023, and at times prior, the employer did not provide appropriate respirator filter cartridges for chemicals employees were exposed to in the workplace.  Employees were observed handling chemicals with respiratory hazards including, but not limited to, pouring and mixing hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, as well as adding Textrone (Sodium Chlorite) to the reactor vessel. Employees wore respirators with cartridges approved for organic vapor exposure which were not protective against acid gases.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 064014301860

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:  (a) On or about December 20, 2023, and at times prior, the employer had not evaluated respiratory hazards in the workplace including employee exposure when measuring and mixing hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and byproducts of reactions such as chlorine.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 064014301860

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 December 20, 2023, and at times prior, employees who had not been medically evaluated for respirator use wore tight-fitting half-face and full-face respirators when cleaning reactor vessel filters, measuring, and mixing hydrochloric acid and nitric acid.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 064014301860

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator:   a) On or about December 20, 2023, and at times prior, the employer did not fit test employees required to use tight-fitting respirators. Employees wore tight-fitting half-face and full-face respirators during production tasks including cleaning filters, measuring, and mixing hydrochloric acid, nitric acid.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 064014301860

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:   a) On or about December 20, 2023, and at times prior, employees who had facial hair wore tight-fitting respirators when cleaning reactor vessel filters, measuring, and mixing hydrochloric acid and nitric acid.

Issued

2024-05-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3457.00 · Current $2100.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 14301860

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:  b) Production floor: On or about December 20, 2023, and at times prior, the employer did not provide suitable facilities for quick drenching of the body to employees who handle, mix, and transfer nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, and acid mixtures. Skin or body exposure to chemicals in use in the employer's workplace may result in immediate, irreversible, tissue damage and skin burns.   c) Reactor platform: On or about December 20, 2023, and at times prior, the employer did not provide an emergency eyewash on the reactor platform where employees were observed adding corrosive chemicals including, but not limited to, OxyChem Textone (sodium chlorite) into the production reactor and while testing mixtures in the reactor.   d) Analysis room: On or about December 20, 2023, and at times prior, the employer did not provide an emergency eyewash where employees handle nitric acid and hydrochloric acid while preparing solutions for chemical analysis using Inductively Coupled Plasma analysis equipment.