OSHA Inspection: BWXT NUCLEAR OPERATIONS GROUP, INC.

Issued

Jul 29, 2024

Abate by

Oct 28, 2024

Penalty

Initial $9,218 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2240

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1000(a)(2): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of silver metal listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average concentration of 0.01 mg/m3:  Employee exposures to silver metal exceeded the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.01 mg/m3 listed in Table Z-1 for instances such as, but not limited to:  a.) On or about March 11, 2024, an employee was exposed to silver metal that exceeded the PEL while performing abrasive cleaning activities in the bench assembly area. The employee was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 0.189 mg/m3 for particulates not otherwise regulated total dust, approximately 18.9 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.01 mg/m3. The exposure level was derived from samples collected over a 393 minute sampling period, with zero exposure assumed for the unsampled period of 87 minutes.

Issued

Jul 29, 2024

Abate by

Oct 28, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 2240

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):  Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to comply with 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) and assure that employee exposure to silver metal was below the permissible exposure limit. Employees with exposure in excess of the permissible exposure limit (PEL) included the following instances:  a.) On or about March 11, 2024, an employee was exposed to silver metal that exceeded the PEL while performing abrasive cleaning activities in the bench assembly area. The employee was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 0.189 mg/m3 for particulates not otherwise regulated total dust, approximately 18.9 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.01 mg/m3. The exposure level was derived from samples collected over a 393 minute sampling period, with zero exposure assumed for the unsampled period of 87 minutes.  Controls usually applicable in these circumstances include but are not limited to:  1. Local ventilation effectively installed during abrasive cleaning operations.  Step 1: Submit to the Area Director a written detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measure to control employee exposure to air contaminants as referenced in this citation. This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the dates required by this citation:  1. Evaluation of engineering control options  2. Selection of optimum control method and completion of design  3. Procurement, installation, and operation of selected control measures  4. Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls  Step 2: All proposed control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. Proposed control measures selected should be appropriate to the type of material present. Thirty day progress reports are required during the abatement period. Abatement must be completed by 60 days.  Step 3: Abatement should be completed by the implementation of feasible engineering.