OSHA Inspection: WASHAMERICA, INC.

Issued

2026-01-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-02-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $8276.00 · Current $4138.00 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:  a) On or about January 16, 2026, at the blasting department, a hearing conservation program was not implemented, when an employee performing blasting activities was exposed to noise at 675.8% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 103.8 dBA. Sampling was conducted for 451 minutes of one work shift. Zero exposure was assumed for the remaining 29 minutes.

Issued

2026-01-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-02-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1): When information indicated that employee's exposure was equal to or exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program:  a) On or about January 16, 2026, at the blasting department, a noise monitoring program had not been established, when an employee performing blasting activities was exposed to noise at 675.8% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 103.8 dBA. Sampling was conducted for 451 minutes of one work shift. Zero exposure was assumed for the remaining 29 minutes.

Issued

2026-01-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-02-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(1): The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided in this paragraph by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:  a) On or about January 16, 2026, at the blasting department, the employer did not conduct and maintain an audiometric testing program, when an employee performing blasting activities was exposed to noise at 675.8% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 103.8 dBA. Sampling was conducted for 451 minutes of one work shift. Zero exposure was assumed for the remaining 29 minutes.

Issued

2026-01-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-02-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(i)(3): Employees were not given the opportunity to select their hearing protectors from a variety of suitable hearing protectors provided by the employer:  a) On or about January 16, 2026, at the blasting department, the employer did not provide at least two choices of hearing protection. An employee performing blasting activities was exposed to noise at 675.8% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 103.8 dBA. Sampling was conducted for 451 minutes of one work shift. Zero exposure was assumed for the remaining 29 minutes.

Issued

2026-01-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-02-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1): The employer did not train each employee who was exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time weighted average of 85 decibels in accordance with the requirements of this section:  a) On or about January 16, 2026, at the blasting department, a training program had not been established. An employee performing blasting activities was exposed to noise at 675.8% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 103.8 dBA. Sampling was conducted for 451 minutes of one work shift. Zero exposure was assumed for the remaining 29 minutes.

Issued

2026-01-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-02-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4965.00 · Current $2483.00 Reduced

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) On or about August 28, 2025, at the facility, employees using 3M half-face respirators and 3M full-face supplied air respirator (SAR) during railcar cleaning, blasting, and painting activities had not received medical evaluations.

Issued

2026-01-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-02-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator:  a) On or about August 28, 2025, at the facility, employees using 3M half-face respirators and 3M full-face supplied air respirator (SAR) during railcar cleaning, blasting, and painting activities had not been fit tested.

Issued

2026-01-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-02-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4965.00 · Current $2483.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:  a) On or about August 28, 2025, at the painting department, the employer did not implement a written hazard communication program. Employees use hazardous substances such as, but not limited to, Hempel's Non-Skid 418US acrylic paint, a flammable; Durethane paint, a skin and respiratory irritant; and Black Gloss DTM Epoxy Coating, an eye and skin irritant.

Issued

2026-01-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(1): The employer did not have a safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they use:  a) On or about August 28, 2025, at the painting department, a safety data sheet for Hempel's Non-Skid 418US acrylic paint, a flammable, was not maintained.  b) On or about August 28, 2025, at the painting department, a safety data sheet for Durethane paint, a skin and respiratory irritant, was not maintained.  c) On or about August 28, 2025, at the painting department, a safety data sheet for Black Gloss DTM Epoxy Coating, an eye and skin irritant, was not maintained.

Issued

2026-01-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-02-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): The employer did not provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment:  a) On or about August 28, 2025, at the painting department, where employees had not received effective hazard communication information and training. Employees use hazardous substances such as, but not limited to, Hempel's Non-Skid 418US acrylic paint, a flammable; Durethane paint, a skin and respiratory irritant; and Black Gloss DTM Epoxy Coating, an eye and skin irritant.

Issued

2026-01-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $930.00 · Current $465.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(e)(3): Portable fire extinguishers were not subjected to an annual maintenance check:  a) On or about August 28, 2025, at the facility, portable fire extinguishers had not been inspected annually.