OSHA Inspection: CHICAGO METAL FABRICATORS

Issued

2012-06-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-08-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $2450.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a): Protective clothing was not provided and used wherever it was necessary by reason of hazards of processes encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through physical contact:    On or about February 8, 2012, in the facility, employees required to performing arc welding (MIG) processes were exposed to the hazard of burn injuries from contact with sparks and hot metal.  Protective clothing for the body, including, but not limited to, vests, jackets or aprons, was not provided and used to protect against injury.

Issued

2012-06-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-08-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(h)(1): Except as provided by paragraphs(h)(2) through(h)(6) of this section, the protective equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE), used to comply with this part, was not provided by the employer at no cost to employees:    On or about February 8, 2012, in the facility, employees required to perform arc welding processes were exposed to the hazard of burn injuries necessitating the use of protective clothing and equipment, including, but not limited to, vests, jackets or aprons.  The employer did not provide necessary protective clothing and equipment at no cost to employees.

Issued

2012-06-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-08-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2100.00 · Current $1050.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.252(b)(2)(iii): Workers and other persons adjacent to the welding area were not protected from the rays by noncombustible or flameproof screens or shields:    On or about February 8, 2012, in the facility, workers and other persons adjacent to welding areas, such as, but not limited to, Weld Shop & High Bay, were not protected from the arc rays by noncombustible or flameproof screens or shields.

Issued

2012-06-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-10-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2100.00 · Current $1050.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1520

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of iron oxide fume listed in Table Z-1 in excess of 10 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) as an 8-hour time-weighted average concentration (8-hr TWA):    On or about April 11, 2012, at the Weld Shop, an employee required to perform arc welding (MIG) on mild steel was exposed to airborne iron oxide fume at an 8-hour time-weighted average level of 13 mg/m3, approximately 1.3 times the permissible exposure limit of 10 mg/m3 (8-hr TWA), during a 417 minute sampling period.  Zero exposure assumed for the minutes not sampled.

Issued

2012-06-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-10-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to reduce employee exposure below permissible exposure limits:    On or about April 11, 2012, at the Weld Shop, an employee required to perform arc welding (MIG) on mild steel was exposed to airborne iron oxide fume in excess of permissible exposure limits (see Citation 1, Item 4a).  Feasible administrative and/or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to reduce employee exposure:    General methods of control that may be applicable to the process, include, but are not limited to, the following:    1. Provide local exhaust ventilation at welding stations to capture fume before entering workers breathing zone.    2. Provide training to employees on the hazards of metal fume, including, but not limited to, signs and symptoms of exposure and control methods.    Abatement normally will be mutistep as follows:    STEP 1: Effective respiratory protection in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134 shall be provided and used by exposed employees as an interim protection measure until feasible engineering and/or administrative controls can be implemented, or whenever such controls fail to reduce employee exposure to within permissible exposure limits.    Abatement Period: 30 days    STEP 2: Submit to the Area Director, a written detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee exposure to iron oxide fume.  This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the abatement dates required by this citation:    1. Evaluation of engineering/administrative control options;  2. Selection of optimum control methods and completion design;  3. Procurement, installation, and operation of selected control measures;  4. Testing and acceptable or modification/redesign of controls.    All proposed control measures shall be approved for each particular use by a competent Industrial Hygienist or other technically qualified person.    Abatement Period: 60 days    STEP 3: Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.    Abatement Period: 90 days

Issued

2012-06-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-07-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5600.00 · Current $2800.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.253(b)(4)(iii):  Oxygen cylinders in storage were not separated from fuel-gas cylinders or combustible materials (especially oil or grease), a minimum distance of 20 feet (6.1 m) or by a noncombustible barrier at least 5 feet (1.5 m) high having a fire-resistance rating of at least one-half hour:    On or about February 8, 2012, in the facility, oxygen cylinders were stored adjacent to fuel-gas cylinders (e.g. propane, propylene) and were not separated a minimum distance of 20 feet (6.1 m) or by a noncombustible barrier at least 5 feet (1.5 m) high having a fire-resistance rating of at least one-half hour.    CHICAGO METAL FABRICATORS WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 312598071, CITATION NUMBER 1, ITEM NUMBER 7a, AND WAS AFFIRMED AS A FINAL ORDER ON DECEMBER 24, 2009, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED AT 3724 S. ROCKWELL, CHICAGO, IL. 60632

Issued

2012-06-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-09-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1001(k)(1):  All surfaces were not maintained as free as practicable of ACM waste and debris and accompanying dust:    On or about March 13, 2012, in the facility, by the east wall of the High Bay welding area, material containing 15% Chrysotile asbestos was laying on the floor below visibly deteriorated pipe insulation.

Issued

2012-06-21 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-09-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(1):  The employer with a workplace or work operation covered by this section did not determine the 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) exposure for each employee exposed to chromium (VI). This determination shall be made in accordance with either paragraph (d)(2) or paragraph (d)(3) of this section:    On or about February 8, 2012, the employer did not determine the 8-hour TWA exposure to chromium (V1) for employees required to weld on stainless steel during fabrication operations.