OSHA Inspection: AMERICAN AEROGEL CORPORATION

Issued

2012-07-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-08-23 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2401.00 · Current $1250.00 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:    29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1):     a) Cutting Room - On or about 04/03/2012, employees were exposed to continuous noise level at 123.8% of the permissible daily noise level (8 hour time-weighed average sound level of 90 dBA) or equivalent time-weighted of approximately 91.5 dBA  using the 80 dBA threshold level.  The employer has not instituted a hearing conservation program.                         NO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

2012-07-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-08-23 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

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:    1) Casting area- On or about 04/13/12, employees were exposed to Acetic acid at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) level of 21 ppm, approximately 2.0 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 10 ppm.  The exposure calculations are based on results obtained over 465 minutes of sampling with a zero increment used for the 15 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program.    2) Casting area- On or about 05/01/12, employees were exposed to Acetic acid at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) level of 60 ppm, approximately 6.0 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 10 ppm.  The exposure calculations are based on results obtained over 343 minutes of sampling with a zero increment used for the 137 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program.    3) Cutting area- On or about 04/03/12, employees were exposed to Respirable dust at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) level of 7.6 mg/M3, approximately 1.5 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 5 mg.M3.  The exposure calculations are based on results obtained over 480 minutes of sampling with a zero increment used for the 0 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

2012-07-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-04-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1960.00 · Current $1250.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9130

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(c):     Table Z-3. An employee's exposure to any substance listed in Table Z-3, in any 8-hour work shift of a 40-hour work week exceeded the 8-hour time weighted average limit given for that substance in the table.    1) Cutting Room area - On or about 04/13/12, employees were exposed to respirable dust at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) level of 7.6 mg/M3, approximately 1.5 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 5 mg/M3.  The exposure calculations are based on results obtained over 483 minutes of sampling with a zero increment used for the 0 minutes not sampled.    ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

Issued

2012-07-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-04-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9130

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e):  Feasible administrative or engineering controls we determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):    a)  Cutting room - On or about 04/03/12, employees exposed to respirable nuisance dust at an 8-hour time-weighted average concentration of 7.6 mg/m3, approximately 1.5 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 5 mg/m3.  The exposure calculations are based on results obtained over 483 minutes of sampling with zero increment used for the 0 minutes not sampled.  Feasible engineering controls were not implemented.    ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

Issued

2012-07-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-07-13 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1048(d)(1)(i):     Employees of a workplace covered by this standard were not monitored to determine their exposure to formaldehyde:    a) Casting Room - On or about 04/03/2012, employees were working with GP 2018C Epoxy Hardener which contains <0.1% formaldehyde.  These employees had not been monitored to determine his exposure to formaldehyde.         NO ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED