OSHA Inspection: UNIVERSAL CHEMICALS AND COATINGS INC.

Issued

Jul 10, 2025

Abate by

Oct 1, 2025

Penalty

Initial $2,837 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that all places of employment, passageways, storerooms, service rooms, and walking-working surfaces are kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition.  (a) Dispersion room adjacent to the primary laboratory - On or about March 12th, 2025, the work area was not maintained in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition due to the accumulation of multiple empty and partial chemical containers, thereby exposing employees to chemical hazards.   (b) Secondary laboratory / storeroom - On or about March 12th, 2025, the work area was not maintained in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition due to the accumulation of multiple empty, partial, and full containers as well as residual chemicals throughout the fume hoods, thereby exposing employees to chemical hazards.   Abatement certification is required of this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.13(c).

Issued

Jul 10, 2025

Abate by

Aug 1, 2025

Penalty

Initial $4,729 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.106(b)(6): "Sources of ignition." In locations where flammable vapors may be present, precautions shall be taken to prevent ignition by eliminating or controlling sources of ignition. Sources of ignition may include open flames, lightning, smoking, cutting and welding, hot surfaces, frictional heat, sparks (static, electrical, and mechanical), spontaneous ignition, chemical and physical-chemical reactions, and radiant heat.  (a) Primary laboratory - On or around March 12, 2025, precautions were not implemented to protect the electrical outlets at each laboratory station. During tabletop laboratory formulations which involve mixing various flammable liquids, flammable vapors may be present. This formulation is conducted right next to the unprotected outlets, which exposes employees to fire hazards.  Abatement certification is required of this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.13(c).

Issued

Jul 10, 2025

Abate by

Jul 22, 2025

Penalty

Initial $4,729 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.133(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation:  (a) Primary laboratory - On or about March 12th, 2025, employees were exposed to the chemical hazards, during dispensing, mixing and use, of Cymel U-21-511 Resin (Corrosive), Phenalloy 2700 (Corrosive), or DABCO T 12 (Corrosive), without the use of appropriate eye protection.   Abatement certification is required of this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.13(c).

Issued

Jul 10, 2025

Abate by

Aug 1, 2025

Penalty

Initial $4,729 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.151(c): Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:  (a) Primary laboratory - On or about March 12th, 2025, employees were exposed to the chemical hazards, during dispensing, mixing and use of chemicals such as, but not limited to, Cymel U-21-511 Resin (Corrosive), Phenalloy 2700 (Corrosive), or DABCO T 12 (Corrosive), without access to suitable emergency washing facilities in the immediate work area.   Abatement certification is required of this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.13(c).

Issued

Jul 10, 2025

Abate by

Oct 1, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.107(b)(5)(i): There were no visible gauges, audible alarms or pressure activated devices installed in paint spray booths to indicate or ensure that the required air speed was maintained.  (a) Spray booth room adjacent to the primary laboratory - On or about May 7th, 2025, visible gauges were not installed on the open-faced bench-top spray booth to confirm that the required air velocity was being maintained. Employees may be exposed to fire hazards in the event that the required air velocity is not maintained.   Abatement certification is required of this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.13(c).

Issued

Jul 10, 2025

Abate by

Aug 7, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify, through a written certification, that the required workplace hazard assessment had been performed:  (a) Throughout the laboratory - On or about March 12th, 2025, the employer did not verify, through written certification, that a personal protective equipment hazard assessment had been performed. Employees were exposed to the chemical hazards of Cymel U-21-511 Resin (Corrosive), Phenalloy 2700 (Corrosive), or DABCO T 12 (Corrosive) while performing laboratory research & development testing.   Abatement certification is required of this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.13(c).

Issued

Jul 10, 2025

Abate by

Aug 1, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(f)(6)(ii): Except as provided in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(7) and 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(8), the employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals and which, in conjunction with the other information immediately available to employees under the hazard communication program, would provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical  (a) Primary Laboratory  - On or about March 12th, 2025, secondary containers of raw materials such as solvents, additives, and pigments, used for research and development formulation, were not labeled with words, pictures, symbols, or a combination thereof, which provided general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals.   Abatement certification is required of this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Jul 10, 2025

Abate by

Aug 1, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1450(e)(1): Where hazardous chemicals were used in the workplace, the employer did not develop and carry out the provisions of a written Chemical Hygiene Plan which was capable of protecting employees from health hazards associated with hazardous chemicals:  (a) Primary laboratory - On or about March 12th, 2025, the employer did not develop and implement a written Chemical Hygiene Plan or written program which sets forth procedures, equipment, personal protective equipment and work practices that are capable of protecting employees from the health hazards presented by hazardous chemicals within the workplace and meets the requirements of paragraph (e) of 29 CFR 1910.1450. Employees were exposed to the chemical hazards of multiple raw ingredients such as, but not limited to,  CYMEL U-21-511 Resin (contains formaldehyde at <1.2%) and Resimene 741 (contains formaldehyde at <0.4%) without the benefit of a written program.  Abatement certification is required of this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.13(c).