OSHA Inspection: MAECO FABRICATION, INC.

Issued

Mar 28, 2025

Abate by

Apr 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $4,729 · Current $4,729

Hazardous substances 81108111

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 (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:  a) Sandblasting area; On or about December 4, 2024, and at times prior thereto, An employee sandblasting steel parts was exposed to continuous noise at a level of 483.6% dose (equivalent to a TWA of 101.3 dBa) which is approximately 9.672 times the Action Level (AL) for an 8-hour workday of 50% dose (equivalent to a TWA of 85 dBa) and the employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program. Sample taken over a 404-minute sampling period with zero exposure used for the 76 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Mar 28, 2025

Abate by

Apr 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1): When information indicated that any employee's exposure equaled or exceed the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program:  a) Sandblasting area; On or about December 4, 2024, and at times prior thereto, An employee sandblasting steel parts was exposed to continuous noise at a level of 483.6% dose (equivalent to a TWA of 101.3 dBa) which is approximately 9.672 times the Action Level (AL) for an 8-hour workday of 50% dose (equivalent to a TWA of 85 dBa) and the employer had not developed a monitoring program to ensure employees were adequately protected from noise. Sample taken over a 404-minute sampling period with zero exposure used for the 76 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Mar 28, 2025

Abate by

Apr 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(1): The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided by 29 CFR 1910.95(g) by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:  a) Sandblasting area; On or about December 4, 2024, and at times prior thereto, An employee sandblasting steel parts was exposed to continuous noise at a level of 483.6% dose (equivalent to a TWA of 101.3 dBa) which is approximately 9.672 times the Action Level (AL) for an 8-hour workday of 50% dose (equivalent to a TWA of 85 dBa) a and the employer did not establish an audiometric testing program to evaluate the employees hearing. Sample taken over a 404-minute sampling period with zero exposure used for the 76 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Mar 28, 2025

Abate by

Apr 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1): The employer did not train each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k):  a) Sandblasting area; On or about December 4, 2024, and at times prior thereto, An employee sandblasting steel parts was exposed to continuous noise at a level of 483.6% dose (equivalent to a TWA of 101.3 dBa) which is approximately 9.672 times the Action Level (AL) for an 8-hour workday of 50% dose (equivalent to a TWA of 85 dBa) and the employer did not train employees upon initial assignment and annually thereafter. Sample taken over a 404-minute sampling period with zero exposure used for the 76 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Mar 28, 2025

Abate by

Apr 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $4,729 · Current $4,729

Hazardous substances 9000

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:  a) Sandblasting area; On or about December 4, 2024, and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards in that employees were required to wear a tight-fitting negative pressure and N95 respirators without the employer establishing and implementing a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures.

Issued

Mar 28, 2025

Abate by

Apr 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

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:  a) Sandblasting area; On or about December 4, 2024, and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards in that employees were required to wear a tight-fitting negative pressure and N95 respirators without first being medically evaluated to ensure the employees were medically able to wear a negative pressure respirator.

Issued

Mar 28, 2025

Abate by

Apr 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(1): The employer did not ensure that employee(s) required to use a tight-fitting facepiece respirator passed the appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT):  a) Sandblasting area; On or about December 4, 2024, and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards in that employees were required to wear a tight-fitting negative pressure and N95 respirators without first being fit tested.

Issued

Mar 28, 2025

Abate by

Apr 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(3): Training was not provided prior to requiring employees to use a respirator in the workplace:   a) Sandblasting area; On or about December 4, 2024, and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards in that employees were required to wear a tight-fitting negative pressure and N95 respirators without first being provided training as required by the standard.

Issued

Mar 28, 2025

Abate by

Apr 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(g)(2): Where respirator use was required by this section, the employer did not institute a respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134:  a) Sandblasting area; On or about December 4, 2024, and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards in that employees performed work in an area requiring employees to use respirators to reduce exposure to respirable Silica without having a respiratory protection program meeting the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.134 in place.  An employee monitoring another employee sandblasting metal parts was exposed to respirable crystalline silica hazards at 73.4 micrograms per cubic meter which is approximately 1.461 times the permissible exposure level (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter. Results were based on a 403-minute sampling period with zero exposure used for the 77 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Mar 28, 2025

Abate by

Apr 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(g)(1): Where respiratory protection was required by this section, the employer did not provide each employee an appropriate respirator that complied with the requirements of this paragraph and 29 CFR 1910.134:  a) Sandblasting area; On or about December 4, 2024, and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards in that employees performed work in an area that standard requires employees to use respirators to reduce exposure to respirable Silica without the employer providing employees with respirators and requiring their use.  An employee monitoring another employee sandblasting metal parts was exposed to respirable crystalline silica hazards at 73.4 micrograms per cubic meter which is approximately 1.461 times the permissible exposure level (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter. Results were based on a 403-minute sampling period with zero exposure used for the 77 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Mar 28, 2025

Abate by

Apr 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $3,783 · Current $3,783

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):   a) Facility Wide; On or about December 4, 2024, and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to struck-by hazards in that employees were allowed to operate a powered industrial truck without the employer first ensuring the employee was competent to operate the equipment as demonstrated by the completion of the required training and evaluation specified by the regulation.

Issued

Mar 28, 2025

Abate by

Apr 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $4,729 · Current $4,729

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(c): The employer did not ensure that no employee was exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica in excess of 50 ?g/m3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA:  a) Sandblasting area; On or about December 4, 2024, and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica in excess of 50 ?g/m33, calculated as an 8-hour time weight average (TWA). An employee monitoring another employee sandblasting metal parts was exposed to respirable crystalline silica hazards at 73.4 micrograms per cubic meter which is approximately 1.461 times the permissible exposure level (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter. Results were based on a 403-minute sampling period with zero exposure used for the 77 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Mar 28, 2025

Abate by

Apr 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(d)(3)(i): The employer did not perform initial monitoring to assess the 8-hour TWA exposure for each employee on the basis of one or more personal breathing zone air samples that reflect the exposures of employees on each shift, for each job classification, in each work area:  a) Sandblasting area; On or about December 4, 2024, and at times prior thereto, the employer failed to assess the employee monitoring the sandblasting of metal parts to determine their 8-hour TWA exposure. An employee monitoring another employee sandblasting metal parts was exposed to respirable crystalline silica hazards at 73.4 micrograms per cubic meter which is approximately 1.461 times the permissible exposure level (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter. Results were based on a 403-minute sampling period with zero exposure used for the 77 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Mar 28, 2025

Abate by

Apr 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(e)(1): The employer did not establish a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica was, or could have been reasonably expected to be, in excess of the PEL:  a) Sandblasting area; On or about December 4, 2024, and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica in excess of 50 ?g/m3, calculated as an 8-hour time weight average (TWA) and the employer failed to establish a regulated area. An employee monitoring another employee sandblasting metal parts was exposed to respirable crystalline silica hazards at 73.4 micrograms per cubic meter which is approximately 1.461 times the permissible exposure level (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter. Results were based on a 403-minute sampling period with zero exposure used for the 77 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Mar 28, 2025

Abate by

Apr 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(e)(2)(i): The employer did not demarcate regulated areas from the rest of the workplace in a manner that minimized the number of employees exposed to respirable crystalline silica within the regulated area:  a) Sandblasting area; On or about December 4, 2024, and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica in excess of 50 ?g/m3, calculated as an 8-hour time weight average (TWA) and the employer failed to demarcate a regulated area. An employee monitoring another employee sandblasting metal parts was exposed to respirable crystalline silica hazards at 73.4 micrograms per cubic meter which is approximately 1.461 times the permissible exposure level (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter. Results were based on a 403-minute sampling period with zero exposure used for the 77 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Mar 28, 2025

Abate by

Apr 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(f)(2)(i): The employer did not establish and implement a written exposure control plan:  a) Sandblasting area; On or about December 4, 2024, and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica in excess of 50 ?g/m3, calculated as an 8-hour time weight average (TWA) and the employer failed to put in place a written exposure control plan that addressed tasks with silica exposure, administrative controls, engineering controls and personal protective equipment (PPE) controls, and housekeeping methods used to limit employees exposure. An employee monitoring another employee sandblasting metal parts was exposed to respirable crystalline silica hazards at 73.4 micrograms per cubic meter which is approximately 1.461 times the permissible exposure level (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter. Results were based on a 403-minute sampling period with zero exposure used for the 77 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Mar 28, 2025

Abate by

Apr 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(i)(1)(i): The employer did not make medical surveillance available at no cost to each employee, and at a reasonable time and place, for each employee who has been occupationally exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year:  a) Sandblasting area; On or about December 4, 2024, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not make medical surveillance available at no cost to each employee, and at a reasonable time and place, for each employee who has been occupationally exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year. An employee monitoring another employee sandblasting metal parts was exposed to respirable crystalline silica hazards at 73.4 micrograms per cubic meter which is approximately 2.922 times the action level of 25 micrograms per cubic meter. Results were based on a 403-minute sampling period with zero exposure used for the 77 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Mar 28, 2025

Abate by

Apr 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(j)(2): The employer did not post signs at all entrances to regulated areas that bear the following legend:  DANGER RESPIRABLE CRYSTALLINE SILICA  MAY CAUSE CANCER  CAUSES DAMAGE TO LUNGS  WEAR RESPIRATORY PROTECTION IN THIS AREA  AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY   a) Sandblasting area; On or about December 4, 2024, and at times prior thereto,  the employer did not post required signage for regulated areas where employees were exposed over the permissible exposure level. An employee monitoring another employee sandblasting metal parts was exposed to respirable crystalline silica hazards at 73.4 micrograms per cubic meter which is approximately 1.461 times the permissible exposure level (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter. Results were based on a 403-minute sampling period with zero exposure used for the 77 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Mar 28, 2025

Abate by

Apr 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(j)(3)(i): The employer did not ensure that each employee covered by this section could demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the following: (A) the health hazards associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica; (B) specific tasks in the workplace that could result in exposure to respirable crystalline silica; (C) specific measures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to respirable crystalline silica, including engineering controls, work practices, and respirators to be used; (D) the contents of this section; and, (E) the purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program required by paragraph (i) of this section:  a) Sandblasting area; On or about December 4, 2024, and at times prior thereto,  the employer did not provide effective training on silica to employees exposed over the permissible exposure level. An employee monitoring another employee sandblasting metal parts was exposed to respirable crystalline silica hazards at 73.4 micrograms per cubic meter which is approximately 1.461 times the permissible exposure level (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter. Results were based on a 403-minute sampling period with zero exposure used for the 77 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Mar 28, 2025

Abate by

Apr 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $2,837 · Current $2,837

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(j)(1): The employer did not include respirable crystalline silica in the program established to comply with the hazard communication standard (HCS) (29 CFR 1910.1200):    a) Facility wide; On or about December 4, 2024, and at times prior thereto, the employer the employer did not establish a hazard communication program that included a section on respirable crystalline silica.

Issued

Mar 28, 2025

Abate by

Apr 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1):Employers shall develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication 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 and which also includes the information required in (e)(1)(i)-(e)(1)(ii).  a) Facility wide; On or about December 4, 2024, and at times prior thereto, Employer did not have a written hazard communication program detailing the hazards of chemicals such as but not limited to paint, paint thinner, welding gasses, hydraulic fluid, metals, and sand used in the facility

Issued

Mar 28, 2025

Abate by

Apr 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

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 for each hazardous chemical, and did not ensure that they were readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they were in their work area(s)  a) Facility wide; On or about December 4, 2024, and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to hazardous chemicals and substances, such as but not limited to paint, paint thinner, welding gasses hydraulic fluid, metals and sand used in the facility without maintaining material safety data sheets on these chemicals and substances as required by the standard.

Issued

Mar 28, 2025

Abate by

Apr 25, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

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) Facility wide; On or about December 4, 2024, and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to hazardous chemicals and substances, such as but not limited to paint, paint thinner, welding gasses hydraulic fluid, metals and sand used in the facility without providing information and training on these chemicals and substances as required by the standard.