OSHA Inspection: SOUTHCOAST PLATING, INC.

Issued

Nov 22, 2024

Abate by

Jan 15, 2025

Penalty

Initial $2,765 · Current $2,765

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(3): The employer did not ensure that walking-working surfaces are maintained free of hazards such as sharp or protruding objects, loose boards, corrosion, leaks, spills, snow, and ice.  Location: Material Storage Room  Instance 1: On or about September 4, 2024, the concrete floor in the Material Storage Room near the South Plant's entrance had deteriorated to the point where the ground underneath the concrete floor exposed employees to trips and falls.  Location: South Plant  Instance 2: On or about September 4, 2024, a hole in the floor by the eyewash station across from Handline 5B, exposed employees to trip and fall hazards.  Location: Chemical Storage Room  Instance 3: On or about September 4, 2024, the floor in the Chemical Storage Room was covered in standing water, exposing employees and temporary employees to slip and fall hazards.

Issued

Nov 22, 2024

Abate by

Jan 15, 2025

Penalty

Initial $2,765 · Current $2,765

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(1):A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:  Facility: On or about 10/04/2024, when employees were required to wear respirators during plating tank recharging and clean-up operations, the employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection plan that included the required provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) through (ix).

Issued

Nov 22, 2024

Abate by

Jan 15, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(i): Selection of appropriate respirators was not based on the respiratory hazard(s) to which the worker was exposed and user factors that affect respirator performance and reliability:  Facility: On or about 10/04/2024, when employees were required to wear disposable NIOSH-approved respirators, the employer did not select the correct respirator to protect the workers from the hazards top which they were exposed.  The employer selected N95 particulate respirators for workers to use when dispensing acids into plating tanks.  This type of respirator is ineffective protection against acid and acid gas vapors generated during these operations.

Issued

Nov 22, 2024

Abate by

Jan 15, 2025

Penalty

Initial $6,452 · Current $6,452

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(1)(i):The employer did not ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l):  Location: South Plant  Incident 1: On or about, September 4, 2024 two employees, who were not trained and certified to operate propane powered forklifts, were observed operating them, exposing employees to struck-by, and roll over hazards.  Incident 2: On or about September 10, 2024 one employee, who was not trained and certified to operate propane powered forklifts, was observed operating a forklift exposing employees to struck by hazards and roll over hazards.

Issued

Nov 22, 2024

Abate by

Jan 15, 2025

Penalty

Initial $2,765 · Current $2,765

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.179(b)(5):The rated load of crane(s) was not plainly marked on each side of the crane:  Location: South Plant  Instance 1: On or about September 4, 2024, a yellow hoist with no safety clip on hook, or load rating posted was above Hand Line 5B, exposed employees to struck-by hazards.   Instance 2: On or about September 4, 2024, a rusted hoist with no load rating posted and rusted hook with no safety clip exposed employees to struck-by hazards.

Issued

Nov 22, 2024

Abate by

Jan 15, 2025

Penalty

Initial $2,765 · Current $2,765

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.179(b)(8): Employee(s) other than designated personnel were permitted to operate crane(s)  Location: South Plant  On or about September 4, 0224, temporary employees, who were not trained in the use of two unknown make/model hoists, and one Budgit one-ton hoist were operating the hoists, exposing the temporary employees to struck-by hazards.

Issued

Nov 22, 2024

Abate by

Jan 15, 2025

Penalty

Initial $2,765 · Current $2,765

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.179(j)(1)(ii): The employer did not perform frequent and periodic inspections as defined in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section:  Location: South Plant  On or about September 4, 2024, the employer did not perform frequent and periodic inspections on two unknown make/model hoists, and one Budgit one-ton hoist exposing employees to struck-by hazards.

Issued

Nov 22, 2024

Abate by

Jan 15, 2025

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $4,610

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(6): Deteriorating agents. Unless identified for use in the operating environment, no conductors or equipment shall be located in damp or wet locations; where exposed to gases, fumes, vapors, liquids, or other agents that have a deteriorating effect on the conductors or equipment; or where exposed to excessive temperatures.  Location: South Plant  On or about September 4, 2024, conductors and/or equipment were located in damp or wet locations, and/or were exposed to gases, fumes, vapors, liquids and other agents that had a deteriorating effect on the conductors and/or equipment and were not identified for use in that operating environment.  Instance 1: On or about September 4, 2024, thirteen electrical junction boxes and their covers above Hand Line 5B showed signs of rust and each one had one open hole for acid fumes and other gases being generated by the plating processes exposed employees to burns, smoke inhalation and blast injuries.  Instance 2: On or about September 4, 2024, thirteen electrical junction boxes and their covers above Hand Line 5A showed signs of rust and each one had one open hole for acid fumes and other gases being generated by the plating processes exposed employees to burns, smoke inhalation and blast injuries.

Issued

Nov 22, 2024

Abate by

Dec 3, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,687 · Current $3,687

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(g)(1): Sufficient access and working space was not provided and maintained about all electric equipment (operating at 600 volts, nominal, or less to ground) to permit ready and safe operation and maintenance of such equipment:  Location: South Plant  Instance 1: On or about September 4, 2024, a 240-Volt electrical panel and seventeen electrical circuit breakers were blocked by table containing two black plastic five gallon buckets and two metal tubs exposed employees to electrical shock, burns, and electrocution.  Location: Material Storage Room  Instance 2: On or about September 4, 2024 a 440-volt electrical panel along a west wall was blocked by a Toledo scale, exposing employees to electric shock, burns, and electrocution.  Instance 3: On or about September 4, 2024, a 240-Volt electrical panel along the north wall blocked by a gray vinyl and metal chair and cardboard box, exposing employees to electric shock, burns and electrocution.

Issued

Nov 22, 2024

Abate by

Dec 11, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,687 · Current $3,687

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.305(b)(2):Each outlet box in completed installations did not have a cover, faceplate, or fixture canopy:  Location: South Plant  Instance 1: On or about September 4, 2024 a 240-Volt electrical panel door was missing, exposing employees to electric shock, burns, and electrocution.  Instance 2: On or about September 4, 2024 a rusted 240-Volt electrical panel door was missing, exposing employees to electric shock, burns, and electrocution.

Issued

Nov 22, 2024

Abate by

Jan 15, 2025

Penalty

Initial $3,687 · Current $3,687

Hazardous substances 9020

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(1)(iii): Employer(s) did not include asbestos in the hazard communication program established to comply with the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) (� 29 CFR 1910.1200). Employer(s) did not ensure that each employee had access to labels on containers of asbestos and to safety data sheets, and was trained in accordance with the requirements of HCS and paragraph (j)(7) of this section:  Facility: On or about 09/04/2024, when employees were trained in the hazard communication program the employer did not include the requirements of the HCS and paragraph (j)(7) of 29 CFR 1910.1101.

Issued

Nov 22, 2024

Abate by

Jan 15, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9020

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1001(j)(3)(i): Warning signs were not posted at all approaches to the regulated area so that an employee could read the signs and could take necessary protective steps before entering the area:   Facility:  The owner did not post the required signage to warn employees of the presence of asbestos-containing material (ACM) or Presumed Asbestos Containing Material (PACM).  The sign hung from overhead insulated pipes stated that the friable insulation "may" contain asbestos.

Issued

Nov 22, 2024

Abate by

Jan 15, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1001(j)(3)(ii): Building and facility owners did not maintain records of all information required to be provided pursuant to this section and/or otherwise known to the building owner concerning the presence, location and quantity of asbestos-containing material (ACM) and presumed asbestos-containing material (PACM) in the building/facility:  Facility: On or about 09/04/2024, the employer did not maintain records of all information concerning the presence, location, and quantity of asbestos-containing material (ACM) and presumed asbestos-containing material (PACM) in the facility.  The employer labelled pipes in the facility as potentially containing asbestos but did not bother to conduct independent testing to confirm the suspicion.

Issued

Nov 22, 2024

Abate by

Dec 3, 2024

Penalty

Initial $922 · Current $922

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.40(a): The employer did not provide an authorized government representative the records within the four business hours.  On September 4, 2024, the 2020 through to-date 2024 OSHA 300, 300A, and 301 forms were requested and not received within four hours of the request.