OSHA Inspection: UNIVERSAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Issued

Sep 26, 2024

Abate by

Dec 2, 2024

Penalty

Initial $12,676 · Current $16,131

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1025(d)(1)(iii): Full shift personal samples were not representative of the monitored employee's regular, daily exposure to lead:  On or about June 26, 2024, employee monitoring for lead exposure was not representative of the monitored employee's regular, daily exposure to lead, in that employees did not conduct the regular cleaning of the interior of the glass room and the Seiler room on the day of monitoring, a task that is otherwise conducted daily.

Issued

Sep 26, 2024

Abate by

Dec 2, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1027(d)(1)(ii): Determination of employee exposure was not made from breathing zone air samples that reflect the monitored employee's regular, daily 8-hour TWA exposure to cadmium:   On or about June 26, 2024, employee monitoring for lead exposure was not representative of the monitored employee's regular, daily exposure to cadmium, in that employees did not conduct the regular cleaning of the interior of the glass room and the seiler room on the day of monitoring, a task that is otherwise conducted daily.

Issued

Sep 26, 2024

Abate by

Jan 2, 2025

Penalty

Initial $12,676 · Current $16,131

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1025(g)(2)(iv): Protective clothing against lead was not removed at the completion of the work shift in change rooms provided for that purpose as prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1025(i)(2):  On or about April 19, 2024, the employer failed to ensure that work boots and shoes were removed in the change rooms equipped with storage facilities designated for protective work clothing and equipment. Employees removed protective work boots and shoes in the personal item locker room and stored them in personal item lockers, exposing employees to lead through the cross-contamination of work and personal clothing.

Issued

Sep 26, 2024

Abate by

Jan 2, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances C141

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1027(i)(2)(i): The employer did not ensure that employees removed all protective work clothing and equipment contaminated with cadmium in change rooms provided in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1027(j)(1):  On or about April 19, 2024, the employer failed to ensure that work boots and shoes were removed in the change rooms equipped with storage facilities designated for protective work clothing and equipment. Employees removed protective work boots and shoes in the personal item locker room and stored them in personal item lockers, exposing employees to cadmium through the cross-contamination of work and personal clothing.

Issued

Sep 26, 2024

Abate by

Dec 2, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0490C141

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1027(i)(2)(ii):  The employer did not ensure that no employees took cadmium-contaminated protective clothing or equipment from the workplace:  On or about April 19, 2024, the employer failed to ensure that employees exposed to cadmium did not wear protective clothing or equipment such as work boots or shoes out of the workplace.

Issued

Sep 26, 2024

Abate by

Dec 2, 2024

Penalty

Initial $12,676 · Current $16,131

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1025(i)(3)(i):  Employee(s) exposed to lead in excess of the permissible exposure limit (PEL), without regard to the use of respirators, were not required to shower at the end of the work shift:  a) On April 19, 2024, and at times preceding and following, the employer failed to require that General Production Operators working in the Seiler TV D-Man role shower at the end of the work shift where they were exposed to lead in excess of the permissible exposure limit without regard to the use of respirators.  b) On April 19, 2024, and at times preceding and following, the employer failed to require that General Production Operators working in the QC/Sort role shower at the end of the work shift where they were exposed to lead in excess of the permissible exposure limit without regard to the use of respirators.  c) On June 26, 2024, and at times preceding and following, the employer failed to require that General Production Operators working in the Seiler Pit Baler role shower at the end of the work shift where they were exposed to lead in excess of the permissible exposure limit without regard to the use of respirators.  d) On June 26, 2024, and at times preceding and following, the employer failed to require that General Production Operators working in the Seiler Pit Bagging role shower at the end of the work shift where they were exposed to lead in excess of the permissible exposure limit without regard to the use of respirators.

Issued

Sep 26, 2024

Abate by

Dec 2, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances C141

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1027(j)(3)(i):  The employer did not ensure that employees exposed to cadmium above the permissible exposure limit (PEL) showered during the end of the work shift:  The employer did not ensure that employees working in the Glass Area that were exposed to cadmium above the permissible exposure limit (PEL) showered during the end of the work shift:  a) On April 19, 2024, the employer failed to require that General Production Operators working in the Seiler TV D-Man role shower during the end of the work shift where they were exposed to cadmium in excess of the permissible exposure limit.  b) On June 26, 2024, the employer failed to require that General Production Operators working in the Seiler TV D-Man role shower during the end of the work shift where they were exposed to cadmium in excess of the permissible exposure limit.

Issued

Sep 26, 2024

Abate by

Dec 2, 2024

Penalty

Initial $12,676 · Current $16,131

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1025(j)(2)(i)(A):  The employer did not make available biological monitoring in the form of blood sampling and analysis for lead and zinc protoporphyrin levels at least every 6 months to each affected employee:  On or about April 19, 2024, the employer did not ensure employees that are regularly exposed to lead above the action level had not been provided biological monitoring for lead and zinc protoporphyrin levels at least every six months.  a) Employees working in the Seiler DMAN position were not provided biological monitoring for lead and zinc protoporphyrin levels at least every six months.   b) Employees working in the Seiler Baler position were not provided biological monitoring for lead and zinc protoporphyrin levels at least every six months.  c) Employees working in the Seiler Conveyor position were not provided biological monitoring for lead and zinc protoporphyrin levels at least every six months.  d) Employees working in the QC Sort/Sort Station position were not provided biological monitoring for lead and zinc protoporphyrin levels at least every six months.

Issued

Sep 26, 2024

Abate by

May 1, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $16,131

Hazardous substances C141

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1027(f)(1)(i):  The employer did not implement engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure to cadmium at or below the permissible exposure limit (PEL):  The employer failed to implement engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure to cadmium at or below the PEL. Employee exposures to airborne cadmium exceeded the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of five micrograms per cubic meter of air (?g/m3) in instances such as, but not limited to:  a) On April 19, 2024, a General Processing Operator performing the TV - DMAN task at the Seiler Pit - TV D-MAN station was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 10. ?g/m3 for cadmium, approximately 2.0 times the Permissible Exposure Limit of 5 ?g/m3. The exposure level was derived from samples taken over a 405-minute period, with zero exposure assumed for the unsampled period of 75 minutes.

Issued

Sep 26, 2024

Abate by

Dec 2, 2024

Penalty

Initial $12,676 · Current $16,131

Hazardous substances C141

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1027(e)(1):  The employer did not establish a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of cadmium was, or could reasonably have been expected to be, in excess of the permissible exposure limit (PEL):  On or about July 12, 2024, the employer failed to establish a regulated area surrounding the Seiler Pit - TV D-MAN workstation where employees had previous been, and could reasonably have been expected to be, exposed to airborne concentrations of cadmium in excess of the permissible exposure limit.

Issued

Sep 26, 2024

Abate by

May 1, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $16,131

Hazardous substances 1591C141

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):  On April 19, 2024, employees working at the Seiler D-Man station were exposed in excess of the permissible exposure limit for the mixture of Lead and Cadmium and administrative or engineering controls were not implemented to decrease employee exposures below the computation formula as specified in 29 CFR 1910.1000(d)(2)(i).  (a) On April 19, 2024, an employee was dismantling Cathode Ray Tubes at the D-Man station. The employee was exposed to inorganic Lead at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 0.067 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) of air, approximately 1.3 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 0.05 mg/m3; and Cadmium at an 8-hour TWA of 0.010 mg/m3 of air, approximately 2.0 times the PEL of 0.005 mg/m3. The exposure concentration was approximately 3.3 times the permissible 8-hour TWA concentration for the mixture. Sampling was performed for 405 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the 75 minute period not sampled.   (b) On April 19, 2024, an employee was dismantling Cathode Ray Tubes at the D-Man station. The employee was exposed to inorganic Lead at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 0.104 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) of air, approximately 2.1 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 0.05 mg/m3; and Cadmium at an 8-hour TWA of 0.0034 mg/m3 of air, approximately 0.67 times the PEL of 0.005 mg/m3. The exposure concentration was approximately 2.8 times the permissible 8-hour TWA concentration for the mixture. Sampling was performed for 401 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the 79 minute period not sampled.  Universal Recycling Technologies, LLC was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1630595, citation number 1, item number 1 a, and was affirmed as a final order on May 1, 2023, with respect to a workplace located at 2535 Beloit Ave, Janesville, WI 53546.

Issued

Sep 26, 2024

Abate by

Jan 2, 2025

Penalty

Initial $63,382 · Current $16,131 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1025(h)(1):  All surfaces were not maintained as free as practicable of accumulations of lead:  On or about April 18, 2024, the employer did not ensure that the surfaces inside of employee lockers used to store personal items were maintained as free as practicable of the accumulation of lead.  Universal Recycling Technologies, LLC was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1630595, citation number 1, item number 7 a and was affirmed as a final order on May 1, 2024, with respect to a workplace located at 2535 Beloit Ave, Janesville, WI 53546.

Issued

Sep 26, 2024

Abate by

Jan 2, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0490C141

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1027(k)(1):  Surfaces were not maintained as free as practicable of accumulations of cadmium:  On or about April 18, 2024, the employer did not ensure that surfaces inside of employee lockers used to store personal items were maintained as free as practicable of the accumulation of cadmium.  Universal Recycling Technologies, LLC was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1630595, citation number 1, item number 7 b and was affirmed as a final order on May 1, 2024, with respect to a workplace located at 2535 Beloit Ave, Janesville, WI 53546.

Issued

Sep 26, 2024

Abate by

Dec 2, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(3)(ii):  Employee training did not include the physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area:  On or about April 19, 2024, General Processing Operators and Cross Functional Operations Associates working in areas in which they were exposed to both lead and cadmium had not been trained on the additive toxic effect to the kidneys resulting from exposure to the combination of lead and cadmium. Exposure to the combination of lead and cadmium can lead to the development or worsening of renal disorders at a higher rate than exposure to each of the individual contaminants as a result of this additive effect.