OSHA Inspection: WSMD, INC.

Issued

Aug 6, 2024

Abate by

Dec 16, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,839 · Current $2,770 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:  In the welding and grinding area at 47 Olivine St.  Chicopee, MA:   On and before April 22, 2024, employees engaged in grinding and welding and the employer had not administered a continuing, effective Hearing Conservation Program.  Two employees were exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) sound level of 87.8 and 88.6 decibels (dB) measured on the A scale, while operating and working in close proximity to Dewalt and Rigid angle grinders, die grinders, welding and other noise-generating tasks.

Issued

Aug 6, 2024

Abate by

Dec 16, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,765 · Current $2,765

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program (RPP) that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented where respirators were necessary to protect the health of employees:  In the welding and grinding area at 47 Olivine St.  Chicopee, MA:   On April 22, 2024, and at times prior, the employer did not implement a RPP for employees who are required to wear GVS half-face elastomeric or 3M N95 filtering facepiece device respirators while cutting, grinding, and welding metal door frames.   ABATEMENT NOTE:  A respirator program shall include the following elements:    -Procedures for selecting respirators  -Medical evaluations for employees required to use respirators  -Procedures for fit testing tight fitting respirators  -Procedures for proper use of respirators  -Procedures and schedules for cleaning, storing, inspecting, and maintaining respirators  -Training of employees about respiratory hazards in the workplace  -Training on proper use of respirators  -Procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program  *Abatement notes are intended only to provide clarity regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies. Abatement notes do not create (or diminish) legal obligations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Issued

Aug 6, 2024

Abate by

Dec 16, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0731

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer shall identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; this evaluation shall include a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazard(s) and an identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form. Where the employer cannot identify or reasonably estimate the employee exposure, the employer shall consider the atmosphere to be IDLH.  In the welding and grinding area at 47 Olivine St.  Chicopee, MA:   On April 22, 2024, and at times prior, the employer did not identify, and evaluate, welding fumes as a respirable hazard in any form, during the metal door welding, cutting, and grinding/polishing processes.

Issued

Aug 6, 2024

Abate by

Dec 16, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  In the welding and grinding area at 47 Olivine St.  Chicopee, MA:   On and before April 22, 2024, two employee was not provided a medical evaluation prior to being required to wear a GVS half face elastomeric respirator or N-95 filtering facepiece device.

Issued

Aug 6, 2024

Abate by

Dec 16, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(1): The employer did not ensure that employees using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator pass an appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT) as stated in this paragraph.  In the welding and grinding area at 47 Olivine St.  Chicopee, MA:   On April 22, 2024, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that employees were quantitatively or qualitatively fit-tested for required-use GVS half face elastomeric and 3M N95 filtering facepiece protective device respirators prior to usage for metal welding and grinding processes.

Issued

Aug 6, 2024

Abate by

Dec 16, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  At the grinding and welding area at 47 Olivine St. Chicopee, MA: On April 22, 2024, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that employees, required to use respirators, did not have facial hair which came between the sealing surface of a GVS half face elastomeric respirator.

Issued

Aug 6, 2024

Abate by

Sep 23, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,457 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1):  The employer shall develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication ((HAZCOM) program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met:  In the welding and grinding area at 47 Olivine St.  Chicopee, MA:   On April 22, 2024, and at times prior, the employer did not develop a written HAZCOM program for various hazardous chemicals including but not limited to Krylon Acryli-quik gray primer and 3M Bondo.

Issued

Aug 6, 2024

Abate by

Sep 23, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1)(i): The employer did not compile a list of the hazardous chemicals known to be present using a product identifier that was referenced on the appropriate safety data sheet.  In the welding and grinding area at 47 Olivine St.  Chicopee, MA:   On April 22, 2024, and at times prior, the employer did not compile a list of hazardous chemicals known to be present such as, but not limited to, Krylon Acryli-quik gray primer and 3M Bondo.

Issued

Aug 6, 2024

Abate by

Sep 23, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8): The employer did not maintain in the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets (SDS) for each hazardous chemical and shall ensure that they are readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they are in their work area(s).  In the welding and grinding area at 47 Olivine St.  Chicopee, MA:   On April 22, 2024, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that SDS's are made available to employees who perform fabrication of steel doors and steel door frames using hazardous chemicals such as, but not limited to, Krylon Acryli-quik gray primer and 3M Bondo filler.

Issued

Aug 6, 2024

Abate by

Sep 23, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): The employer did not provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new physical or health hazard the employees had not previously been trained about was introduced into their work area:  In the welding and grinding area at 47 Olivine St.  Chicopee, MA:   On April 22, 2024, and at times prior, the employer did not provide employees with effective information and training, upon initial assignment, on hazardous chemicals such as, but not limited to, Acryli-quick primer and 3M Bondo.