OSHA Inspection: BULA FORGE & MACHINE INC.

Issued

Jul 23, 2025

Abate by

Dec 15, 2025

Penalty

Initial $11,585 · Current $8,110 Reduced

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 1910.9(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:  1. On and before March 13, 2025, an employee standing at the furnace putting metal in was exposed to noise at 210.7% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 96.4 dB, as measured over 424 minutes of sampling.  2. On and before March 13, 2025, an employee operating the forge hammer was exposed to noise at 240.8% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 96.4 dB, as measured over 421 minutes of sampling.  3. On and before March 13, 2025, an employee operating the trim press was exposed to noise at 281.4% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 95.4 dB, as measured over 445 minutes of sampling.

Issued

Jul 23, 2025

Abate by

Aug 18, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(i)(5): The employer shall ensure proper initial fitting and supervise the correct use of all hearing protectors.  On or about March 13, 2025, the employer had not ensured proper initial fitting and correct usage of hearing protectors to new employees who were  exposed to an 8 hour time weighted average of greater than 85 decibels.

Issued

Jul 23, 2025

Abate by

Aug 18, 2025

Penalty

Initial $4,965 · Current $2,483 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(2)(i): Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:  On or about March 13, 2025,  the employer failed to provide employees, who are voluntarily wearing to include but not limited to 3M 8511 series respirators with the information contained in Appendix D of the Respiratory Protection standard.

Issued

Jul 23, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(2)(ii):In addition, the employer must establish and implement those elements of a written respiratory protection program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily is medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator is cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user. Exception: Employers are not required to include in a written respiratory protection program those employees whose only use of respirators involves the voluntary use of filtering facepieces (dust masks).  On or about March 13, 2025, the employer failed to provide employees, who are voluntarily wearing 3M 8511 series respirators with information on how to maintain clean respirators. An employee had a dirty respirator that needed changed.

Issued

Jul 23, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  On or about March 13, 2025, the employer failed to provide employees, who are voluntarily wearing 3M 8511 series respirators with clean and sanitary respirators. An employee had a dirty respirator that needed changed.