OSHA Inspection: BEFESA ZINC US INC.

Issued

Dec 5, 2024

Penalty

Initial $16,131 · Current $11,292 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(e)(3)(i):The employer did not provide a follow-up medical examination for employees who gave a positive response to any question among questions 1 through 8 in Section 2, Part A of Appendix C, or whose initial medical evaluation demonstrated a need for a follow-up medical examination:   a.  On or about October 16, 2024, in the facility, employees had been provided with annual medical evaluations to determine the employees' ability to safely wear respiratory protection.  An employee was exposed to potential health hazards when the employer failed to provide a follow up medical evaluation after the physician or other licensed health care professional (PLHCP) determined a follow up medical evaluation was necessary prior to approving the use of tight-fitting respiratory protection for the same individual.

Issued

Dec 5, 2024

Abate by

Dec 17, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator were not annually fit tested:  a.  On or about October 14, 2024, in the facility, employee(s) were required to wear tight-fitting respiratory protection.  The employer failed to ensure that each employee had an annual fit test to ensure a proper fit, thereby exposing employees to hazards including, but not limited to, lead and cadmium.

Issued

Dec 5, 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:   a.  On or about October 16, 2024, in the facility, an employee with a full beard was required to wear tight-fitting respiratory protection.  The employer failed to ensure that employee(s) required to wear tight-fitting respiratory protection were "clean shaven" and/or assured a good sealing surface between respiratory protection facepiece and face, thereby exposing employees to hazards such as, but not limited to, lead and cadmium.

Issued

Dec 5, 2024

Penalty

Initial $11,524 · Current $8,067 Reduced

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 October 16, 2024, in the facility, employees were exposed to lead greater than the permissible exposure limit.  Employees were further exposed to hazards associated with lead when surfaces in the lunchroom were not maintained as free as practicable from lead contamination.   Wipe samples obtained from bench surfaces in the lunchroom, each covering an area of 100 square centimeters, contained 48.821 and 67.541 micrograms of lead.  Further, a 100 square centimeter area wipe sample obtained from a surface inside of the refrigerator contained 11.157 micrograms of lead.    b.  On or about October 16, 2024, in the facility, employees were exposed to lead greater than the permissible exposure limit.  Employees were further exposed to hazards associated with lead when the "clean side" of the change room, which was designed to prevent cross contamination between contaminated work clothing and regular clothing, was not maintained as free as practicable from lead contamination.  Wipe samples obtained from the bottom surface inside of one locker and the top shelf surface inside of a second locker, each covering an area of 100 square centimeters, contained 103.88 and 10.317 micrograms of lead, respectfully.  Employees were exposed to lead hazards when the employer failed to ensure surfaces were maintained as free as practicable of lead.

Issued

Dec 5, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1027(k)(1): Surfaces were not maintained as free as practicable of accumulations of cadmium:  a.  On or about October 16, 2024, in the facility, employees were exposed to cadmium greater than the permissible exposure limit.  Employees were further exposed to hazards associated with cadmium when surfaces in the lunchroom were not maintained as free as practical from cadmium contamination.  Wipe samples obtained from bench surfaces in the lunchroom, each covering an area of 100 square centimeters, contained 3.8883 and 6.6715 micrograms of cadmium.    b.  On or about October 16, 2024, in the facility, employees were exposed to cadmium greater than the permissible exposure limit.  Employees were further exposed to hazards associated with cadmium when the "clean side" of the change room, which was designed to prevent cross contamination between contaminated work clothing and regular clothing, was not maintained as free as practicable from cadmium contamination. A wipe sample obtained from the bottom surface inside of a locker, covering an area of 100 square centimeters, contained 9.7845 micrograms of cadmium.  Employees were exposed to hazards associated with cadmium when the employer failed to ensure surfaces were maintained as free as practicable of cadmium.

Issued

Dec 5, 2024

Abate by

Dec 17, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(g)(2)(v): Contaminated protective clothing to be cleaned, laundered, or disposed of, was not placed in a closed container to prevent dispersion of lead outside the container:  a.  On or about October 16, 2024, outside of the locker room, employees were potentially exposed to hazards associated with lead when dirty lead contaminated clothing was located in a container which was not closed and did not have the ability to close.

Issued

Dec 5, 2024

Abate by

Dec 17, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(g)(2)(vii)(A): The employer did not ensure that labels of bags or containers of contaminated protective clothing and equipment included the following information:     DANGER: CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT CONTAMINATED WITH LEAD. MAY DAMAGE FERTILITY OR THE UNBORN CHILD. CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. DO NOT EAT, DRINK OR SMOKE WHEN HANDLING. DO NOT REMOVE DUST BY BLOWING OR SHAKING. DISPOSE OF LEAD CONTAMINATED WASH WATER IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LOCAL, STATE, OR FEDERAL REGULATIONS.  a.  On or about October 16, 2024, outside of the lunchroom, employees placed used and dirty lead contaminated clothing in a container.  The container was not labeled to include hazard warning(s) associated with lead.

Issued

Dec 5, 2024

Abate by

Dec 17, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1027(i)(2)(iii): The employer did not ensure that cadmium-contaminated protective clothing and equipment, when removed for laundering, cleaning, maintenance, or disposal, were placed and stored in sealed, impermeable bags or other closed, impermeable containers that are designed to prevent dispersion of cadmium dust:   a.  On or about October 16, 2024, outside of the locker room, employees were potentially exposed to hazards associated with cadmium when dirty cadmium contaminated clothing was located outside in a container which was not closed.  The container was located outdoors and outside of the vestibule with the downdraft booth and prior to entering the locker room.

Issued

Dec 5, 2024

Abate by

Dec 17, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1027(m)(3)(ii): Containers of contaminated protective clothing, equipment, waste, scrap, or debris did not include at least the following information:  DANGER  CONTAINS CADMIUM  MAY CAUSE CANCER  CAUSES DAMAGE TO LUNGS AND KIDNEYS  AVOID CREATING DUST  a. On or about October 16, 2024, outside of the locker room, employees were potentially exposed to hazards associated with cadmium when dirty cadmium contaminated clothing was located outside in a container which was not labeled with the required hazard warning(s) associated with cadmium.