OSHA Inspection: BARNES INTERNATIONAL, LLC

Issued

Aug 2, 2024

Abate by

Sep 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,839 · Current $2,420 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(e)(1): General. The employer shall provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace. The employer may discontinue an employee's medical evaluations when the employee is no longer required to use a respirator.  On or about April 11, 2024, employees exposed to hexavalent chromium while welding on stainless steel and employees exposed to VOC's during painting operations were not provided with medical evaluations to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace. Welders are required to wear N-95 respirators and painters are required to wear half-mask respirators.   Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Aug 2, 2024

Abate by

Sep 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(2):The employer shall ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator is fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) is used, and at least annually thereafter.  On or about April 11, 2024, employees were exposed to respiratory stressors associated with being allowed to wear N-95 respirators and half-mask respirators. Employees are required to wear the N-95 respirator to protect from exposure to hexavalent chromium while welding on stainless steel. Employees are required to wear the half-mask respirator to protect from exposure to VOC's during paining operations. Employees were not fit-tested prior to the initial use of the respirator.  Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Aug 2, 2024

Abate by

Sep 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $8,067 · Current $4,034 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(c)(1):The employer did not evaluate the workplace to determine if any spaces are permit-required confined spaces.  On or about April 11, 2024, employees were exposed to a hazardous atmosphere in a permit-required confined space while welding on steel pipes inside of a filtration system tank. The employer failed to evaluate the workspace to determine it was a permit-required confined space.  Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Aug 2, 2024

Abate by

Sep 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $8,067 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(d)(5)(i): The employer did not test conditions in the permit space to determine if acceptable entry conditions exist before entry is authorized to begin, except that, if isolation of the space is infeasible because the space is large or is part of a continuous system (such as a sewer), pre-entry testing shall be performed to the extent feasible before entry is authorized and, if entry is authorized, entry conditions shall be continuously monitored in the areas where authorized entrants are working;  On or about April 11, 2024, employees were exposed to a hazardous atmosphere in a permit-required confined space while welding on steel pipes inside of a filtration system tank. The employer failed to test and continuously monitor the conditions of the workspace to determine acceptable entry conditions exist.  Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Aug 2, 2024

Abate by

Sep 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $8,067 · Current $4,034 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1026(j)(2)(ii):Dry shoveling, dry sweeping, and dry brushing may be used only where HEPA-filtered vacuuming or other methods that minimize the likelihood of exposure to chromium (VI) have been tried and found not to be effective.  On or about April 11, 2024, employees were increasing their likelihood of exposure to hexavalent chromium while dry sweeping excess metal shavings from the ground without the use of a HEPA-filtered vacuum or other methods that minimize the likelihood of exposure.   Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Aug 2, 2024

Abate by

Sep 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $8,067 · Current $4,034 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1026(l)(2)(i):The employer shall ensure that each employee can demonstrate knowledge of at least the following: - The contents of this section; and - The purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program required by paragraph (k) of this section.  On or about April 11, 2024, employees were exposed to hazards when working with hazardous materials such as hexavalent chromium, without each employee having been trained with effective information on the hazards of hexavalent chromium in their work area. Employees were not aware of potential health effects such as cancer, eye irritation, and skin sensitization.   Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Aug 2, 2024

Abate by

Sep 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(h)(2)(i):All respirators shall be stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals, and they shall be packed or stored to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve.  On or about April 11, 2024, employees welding on stainless steel were storing their respirators on a shelf next to the welding bench. The employer did not provide employees with a proper way to store the respirator, creating the potential for contamination inside of the respirator.    Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Aug 2, 2024

Abate by

Sep 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0689

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1026(i)(5): Prohibited activities. The employer shall ensure that employees do not eat, drink, smoke, chew tobacco or gum, or apply cosmetics in regulated areas, or in areas where skin or eye contact with chromium (VI) occurs; or carry the products associated with these activities, or store such products in these areas.  On or about April 11, 2024, employees were observed eating at their welding station where they weld on stainless steel. Employees have a microwave and mini refrigerator at their welding station which allows them to store food and drinks.  Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Aug 2, 2024

Abate by

Sep 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(f)(6):Workplace labeling. Except as provided in paragraphs (f)(7) and (f)(8) of this section, the employer shall ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace is labeled, tagged or marked with either:  On or about April 11, 2024, there was an unlabeled red canister containing containing an unknown chemical which was later identified as chemical lacquer thinner. Employees use the chemical to remove labels from materials and were not provided with the proper labeling.   Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).