OSHA Inspection: BLUFF CITY METAL RECYCLING INC.

Issued

Dec 18, 2024

Abate by

Feb 6, 2025

Penalty

Initial $6,452 · Current $4,000 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 1910.95(c) through (n) 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:  An effective hearing conservation program which included noise monitoring, audiometric testing and training of employees as detailed in the standard was not instituted by Bluff City Metal Recycling Inc.  (a) An employee performing sorting and metal shearing operations was exposed to noise at 93% of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (90 dBA). The equivalent dBA level of 93% is approximately 89.5  dBA.  The sampling was performed for 442 minutes during one 8-hour shift on September 5, 2024 . Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 38 minutes.  (b) An employee performing sorting and metal shearing operations was exposed to noise at 84.2%  of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (90 dBA). The equivalent dBA level of 84.2% is approximately 88.8  dBA.  The sampling was performed for 450 minutes during one 8-hour shift on September 5, 2024 . Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 30 minutes.  (c) An employee performing sorting and metal shearing operations was exposed to noise at 89.9 %  of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (90 dBA). The equivalent dBA level of 89.9 % is approximately 89.2  dBA.  The sampling was performed for 445 minutes during one 8-hour shift on September 5, 2024 . Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 35 minutes.  (d) An employee performing copper wire grinding operations was exposed to noise at 84.6%  of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (90 dBA). The equivalent dBA level of 84.6 % is approximately 88.8  dBA.  The sampling was performed for 459 minutes during one 8-hour shift on September 5, 2024 . Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 21 minutes.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Dec 18, 2024

Abate by

Jan 23, 2025

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $3,000 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:  a) On or about July 26, 2024, the employer  did not ensure that the surface of the lunchroom table was maintained as free as practicable of accumulations of lead.  A wipe sample taken of the lunchroom table indicated the presence of 44 micrograms of lead.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19 (d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstration that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Dec 18, 2024

Abate by

Jan 23, 2025

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $3,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(l)(1)(i): Employee(s) working in an area where there is potential exposure to airborne lead at any level were not informed of the content of Appendices A and B of 29 CFR 1910.1025:  On or about July  26, 2024, the employer did not inform employees, who perform metal sorting and electronic dismantling operations the of the contents of Appendices A and B of this regulation. Employees working with or around lead were exposed to hazards associated with lead such as headaches, fatigue, abdominal pain, and possible lead poisoning.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19 (d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstration that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Dec 18, 2024

Abate by

Jan 23, 2025

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $2,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1025(m)(1)(iii): The employer did not include lead in the hazard communication program established to comply with the HCS (§ 1910.1200), and the employer did not ensure that each employee had access to labels on containers of lead and to safety data sheets, and that employees were trained on lead in accordance with the requirements of HCS and paragraph (l) of this section.  a) On or about July 26, 2024, the employer did not include lead in the program required to comply with the Hazard Communication Standard. Employees working in the facility were required to conduct metal sorting, grinding and electronic dismantling operations for metal scrap for recycling. The hands of an employee were contaminated with up to 17 µg of lead.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19 (d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstration that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Dec 18, 2024

Abate by

Jan 23, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which described how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) would be met:  a) On or about July 26, 2024,  the employer  did not develop or implement a written hazard communication program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1) that would describe or include at least the following:  1) Requirement for labeling and other forms of warning; 2) Safety data sheet availability; 3) Employee information and training; 4) A list of hazardous chemicals known to be present in the workplace;  5) Methods to inform employees of the hazards on non-routine tasks; and  6) Methods to provide other employer(s) access to safety data sheet; information on any precautionary measures and the labeling system used in the workplace.  Employee(s) were exposed to hazardous chemicals including but not limited to lead, iron and copper when conducting metal sorting, grinding and electronic dismantling operations for metal scrap for recycling.

Issued

Dec 18, 2024

Abate by

Jan 23, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:  a) On or about July 26, 2024, the employer  did not provide employees with training regarding the health hazards associated with hazardous chemicals in the work area. Employee(s) were exposed to hazardous chemicals including but not limited to lead, iron and copper when metal sorting, grinding and electronic dismantling operations for metal scrap for recycling.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19 (d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstration that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Dec 18, 2024

Abate by

Jan 23, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(2):The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed; the date(s) of the hazard assessment; and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment.  On or about July 26, 2024, the employer did not ensure that a hazard assessment identifying and selecting appropriate personal protective equipment was conducted prior to employees conducting metal sorting, grinding and electronic dismantling operations for metal scrap for recycling. Employees were exposed to hazards associated with lead such as, but not limited to, headaches, fatigue, abdominal pain, and possible lead poisoning. The employer had not verified that a hazard assessment had been performed at the facility through a written certification.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19 (d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstration that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.

Issued

Aug 28, 2024

Abate by

Sep 10, 2024

Penalty

Initial $922 · Current $466 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.41(a)(1)(i):The establishment had 20 or more employees but fewer than 250 employees at any time during the previous calendar year, and the establishment was classified in an industry listed in appendix A to subpart E of this part, and the employer did not electronically submit information from OSHA Form 300A, Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, to OSHA or OSHA's designee by the specified date:   a) Bluff City Metal Recycling Inc.  - On or about July 24, 2024, the employer failed to electronically submit information from the OSHA Form 300A or equivalent for calendar year 2023, by the specified date of March 2, 2024. The establishment employed 20 employees and was classified with NAICS code 423930.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19 (d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstration that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.