OSHA Inspection: ROTEX GLOBAL, LLC

Issued

May 9, 2025

Abate by

Jun 27, 2025

Penalty

Initial $11,823 · Current $8,276 Reduced

Hazardous substances 068990009135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.38(e): Training. An employer must designate and train employees to assist in a safe and orderly evacuation of other employees.   (a) On or about November 26, 2024, the employer had not trained all designated employees to assist in the safe and orderly evacuation of other employees in case of a fire in the workplace, in that the second shift emergency response team leader was not trained to understand their duties included ensuring safe evacuation of all employees.

Issued

May 9, 2025

Abate by

Jun 27, 2025

Penalty

Initial $9,457 · Current $6,620 Reduced

Hazardous substances 068990009135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1):  In any workplace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer, the employer shall establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures. The program shall be updated as necessary to reflect those changes in workplace conditions that affect respirator use. The employer shall include in the program the following provisions of this section, as applicable:  1910.134(c)(1)(i):  Procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace; 1910.134(c)(1)(ii):  Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirator; 1910.134(c)(1)(iii):  Fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators; 1910.134(c)(1)(iv):  Procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations; 1910.134(c)(1)(v):  Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, discarding, and otherwise maintaining respirators; 1910.134(c)(1)(vi):  Procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow of breathing air for atmosphere-supplying respirators; 1910.134(c)(1)(vii):  Training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations; 1910.134(c)(1)(viii):  Training of employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and their maintenance; and 1910.134(c)(1)(ix):  Procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program.  (a)  On or about December 5, 2024, the employer did not implement all parts of their written Respirator Protection Program, such as but not limited to medical evaluations, fit testing, proper use of respirators in emergency situations, cleaning and storage of respirators, employee training, and procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the respirator program , for employees who were required to wear 3M full face and half face respirators while performing their job duties  (b)  On or about November 26, 2024, the employer did not establish and implement worksite specific procedures for the use of respirators in emergency situations, such as but not limited to use of respirators for the emergency response team responding to a fire.

Issued

May 9, 2025

Abate by

Jun 27, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 068990009135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): General. The employer shall provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace. The employer may discontinue an employee's medical evaluations when the employee is no longer required to use a respirator.  (a)  On or about December 5, 2024, the employer did not provide medical evaluations for all employees before the employee was fit tested or assigned to perform job duties where respirator use was required, such as but not limited to the Apex Grind Room.

Issued

May 9, 2025

Abate by

Jun 27, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 068990009135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): The employer shall ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator is fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) is used, and at least annually thereafter.  (a)  On or about December 5, 2024, the employer had not provided initial and/or annual fit tests for all employees who performed job tasks where they were required to wear respirators, such as but not limited to 3M 6800 full face and half face, 3M 6900 full face and half face, and 3M 7503 half face respirators.

Issued

May 9, 2025

Abate by

Jun 27, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 068990009135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A):  The employer shall not permit respirators with tight-fitting facepieces to be worn by employees who have facial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interferes with valve function.  (a)  On or about December 5, 2024, the employer did not ensure that employees who wore 3M full face respirators while performing their job duties did not have facial hair, such as a full beard.  (b)  On or about November 26, 2024, the employer did not ensure that employees who wore 3M half face respirators while fighting a fire did not have facial hair, such as a full beard.

Issued

May 9, 2025

Abate by

Jun 27, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 068990009135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): Training and information. This paragraph requires the employer to provide effective training to employees who are required to use respirators. The training must be comprehensive, understandable, and recur annually, and more often if necessary. This paragraph also requires the employer to provide the basic information on respirators in Appendix D of this section to employees who wear respirators when not required by this section or by the employer to do so.  The employer shall ensure that each employee can demonstrate knowledge of at least the following:   1910.134(k)(1)(i) Why the respirator is necessary and how improper fit, usage, or maintenance can compromise the protective effect of the respirator; 1910.134(k)(1)(ii) What the limitations and capabilities of the respirator are; 1910.134(k)(1)(iii) How to use the respirator effectively in emergency situations, including situations in which the respirator malfunctions; 1910.134(k)(1)(iv) How to inspect, put on and remove, use, and check the seals of the respirator; 1910.134(k)(1)(v) What the procedures are for maintenance and storage of the respirator; 1910.134(k)(1)(vi) How to recognize medical signs and symptoms that may limit or prevent the effective use of respirators; and 1910.134(k)(1)(vii) The general requirements of this section.  (a)  On or about December 5, 2024, the employer did not ensure that employees who worked in the Apex Grinding Room and were required to wear respirators as part of their job duties were trained on (k)(1)(I) through (k)(1)(vii) of this section.

Issued

May 9, 2025

Abate by

Jun 27, 2025

Penalty

Initial $7,093 · Current $4,965 Reduced

Hazardous substances 068990009135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(1): Cleaning and disinfecting. The employer shall provide each respirator user with a respirator that is clean, sanitary, and in good working order. The employer shall ensure that respirators are cleaned and disinfected using the procedures in Appendix B-2 of this section, or procedures recommended by the respirator manufacturer, provided that such procedures are of equivalent effectiveness. The respirators shall be cleaned and disinfected at the following intervals:   1910.134(h)(1)(i) Respirators issued for the exclusive use of an employee shall be cleaned and disinfected as often as necessary to be maintained in a sanitary condition;  1910.134(h)(1)(ii) Respirators issued to more than one employee shall be cleaned and disinfected before being worn by different individuals;  (a)  On or about December 5, 2024, the employer did not ensure that employees working in the Apex grind room cleaned their respirators as recommended by the manufacturer  or by the procedures in Appendix B of this standard.    (b)  On or about November 26, 2024, the employer did not ensure that respirators used by more than one employee, which were found lying around in the Apex department by emergency responders, were cleaned and disinfected prior to being worn by different individuals.

Issued

May 9, 2025

Abate by

Jun 27, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 068990009135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(2)(i): All respirators shall be stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals, and they shall be packed or stored to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve.   (a)  On or about December 5, 2024, the employer did not ensure that respirators were stored to protect them from contamination, such as dust, sunlight, and extreme temperatures, or that respirators were stored to protect them from deformation of the facepiece or exhalation valve, in that respirators in the Apex area were stored randomly in boxes in storage area with other employee protective equipment including safety shoes, on tables in the grind room, and hanging in open lockers.

Issued

May 9, 2025

Abate by

Jun 27, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 068990009135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(l)(2):   The employer shall regularly consult employees required to use respirators to assess the employees' views on program effectiveness and to identify any problems. Any problems that are identified during this assessment shall be corrected. Factors to be assessed include, but are not limited to:  1910.134(l)(2)(i) Respirator fit (including the ability to use the respirator without interfering with effective workplace performance); 1910.134(l)(2)(ii) Appropriate respirator selection for the hazards to which the employee is exposed; 1910.134(l)(2)(iii) Proper respirator use under the workplace conditions the employee encounters; and 1910.134(l)(2)(iv) Proper respirator maintenance.  (a)  On or about December 5, 2024, the employer did not ensure that employees who were required to wear respirators were regularly consulted to identify and correct any problems found with the effectiveness of the respiratory protection program.