OSHA Inspection: CHEMSTATION OF THE ROCKIES LLC

Issued

2014-07-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1020.00 · Current $612.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees, in that employees were exposed to an explosion hazard from use of PVC thermoplastic piping to transport compressed air:    (a) ChemStation of the Rockies LLC, at 5015 Paris Street, Denver, CO: On 5/19/14, ChemStation of the Rockies Inc did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees, in that, employees were exposed to a fire hazard from improper storage of concentrated hydrogen peroxide.  An approximate thirty gallon container of concentrated hydrogen peroxide was stored on a wood pallet on a shelving unit.  The container was stored on the second level of the shelving unit, below which were other containers of chemicals placed on wood pallets.  Thirty five percent concentrated hydrogen peroxide may cause an explosion or fire if allowed to come into contact with incompatible materials. Wood is an incompatible material with hydrogen peroxide.  The employer did not ensure that containers of thirty five percent hydrogen peroxide were stored where incompatible materials, including wood pallets, were not located. This condition exposed employees to a fire hazard.     Abatement Note:  Among other methods, feasible abatement methods include:    (1) Abatement may be achieved through compliance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Chapter 430 "Storage of Liquid and Solid Oxidizers" for Class II and III oxidizing liquids.    (2) Abatement may be achieved through compliance with North American Hydrogen Peroxide Producers Safety Standard: Storage and Handling of Hydrogen Peroxide".

Issued

2014-07-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1020.00 · Current $612.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6)(iii):  Employees who participated as hazardous materials technicians, or were expected to participate as hazardous materials technicians, had not received at least 24 hours of training equal to the first responder operations level, and had not been certified as having such training:    (a) ChemStation of the Rockies LLC, at 5015 Paris Street, Denver, CO: On and preceding 5/19/14, ChemStation of the Rockies Inc did not ensure that employees who were expected to participate as hazardous materials technicians had received at least 24 hours of training equal to the first responder operations level, and had been certified as having such training.  Employees mixed chemicals in the warehouse and mixing station.  Employees were expected to respond to leaks or spills of chemical and to contain the chemical.  Chemicals included but are not limited to hydrogen peroxide, potassium hydroxide, and nitric acid.  The employees were designated to serve as hazardous materials technicians.  The employer did not ensure that employees received hazardous materials technician training.  This condition exposed employees to a chemical hazard.    Abatement Note: Hazardous Material Technician level training shall ensure that employees:  1.  Know how to implement the employer's emergency response plan;  2.  Know the classification, identification, and verification of known and unknown materials by using field survey instruments and equipment;  3.  Be able to function within an assigned role in the Incident Command System;  4.  Know how to select and use proper specialized chemical personal protective equipment provided to the hazardous materials technician;  5.  Understand hazard and risk assessment techniques;  6.  Be able to perform advance control, containment, and/or confinement operations within the capabilities of the resources and personal protective equipment available with the unit;  7.  Understand and implement decontamination procedures;  8.  Understand termination procedures; and  9.  Understand basic chemical and toxicological terminology and behavior.

Issued

2014-07-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.120(q)(9)(i):  Members of an organized and designated HAZMAT team or hazardous materials specialists did not receive a baseline physical examination:  (a) ChemStation of the Rockies LLC, at 5015 Paris Street, Denver, CO: On and preceding 5/19/14, ChemStation of the Rockies Inc did not ensure that members of an organized and designated HAZMAT team or hazardous materials specialists received a baseline physical examination.  Employees mixed chemicals in the warehouse and mixing station.  Employees were expected to respond to leaks or spills of chemical and to contain the chemical.  Chemicals included but are not limited to hydrogen peroxide, potassium hydroxide, and nitric acid.  The employees were designated to serve as hazardous materials technicians.  The employer did not ensure that employees received a baseline physical examination.  This condition exposed employees to a chemical hazard.

Issued

2014-07-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.120(q)(10):  Chemical protective clothing and equipment to be used by organized and designated HAZMAT team members, or to be used by hazardous materials specialists, did not meet the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.120(g)(3) through (5):  (a) ChemStation of the Rockies LLC, at 5015 Paris Street, Denver, CO: On and preceding 5/19/14, ChemStation of the Rockies Inc did not ensure that chemical protective clothing and equipment to be used by hazardous materials specialists met the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.120(g)(3) through (5).  Employees mixed chemicals in the warehouse and mixing station.  Employees were expected to respond to leaks or spills of chemical and to contain the chemical.  Chemicals included but are not limited to hydrogen peroxide, potassium hydroxide, and nitric acid.  The employees were designated to serve as hazardous materials technicians.  The employer did not ensure that personal protective equipment met the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.120(g)(3) through (5).  This condition exposed employees to a chemical hazard.

Issued

2014-07-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-08-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1020.00 · Current $612.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.141(g)(4):  Food or beverages were stored in area(s) exposed to toxic material(s):    (a) ChemStation of the Rockies LLC, at 5015 Paris Street, Denver, CO: On 5/19/14, ChemStation of the Rockies Inc did not ensure that food or beverages were not stored in an area exposed to toxic materials.  A bottle of water was stored on a workbench at the chemical mixing station.  Chemicals present in the area included potassium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide.  The workbench also contained secondary containers of chemicals.  The employer did not ensure that beverages were not stored in an area where toxic materials were stored and used.  This condition exposed an employee to a chemical hazard.

Issued

2014-07-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1020.00 · Current $612.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5)(i): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the identity of the hazardous chemical(s) contained therein:    (a) ChemStation of the Rockies LLC, at 5015 Paris Street, Denver, CO: On 5/19/14, ChemStation of the Rockies Inc did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the identity of the hazardous chemical(s) contained therein.  Employees mixed chemicals in the warehouse and mixing station.  Employees used "base" chemicals in these mixtures.  The "base" chemicals were stored in unlabeled secondary containers, including spray bottles and storage carboys.  The employer did not ensure that secondary containers of chemicals were labeled with the identity of the contents.  This condition exposed employees to a chemical hazard.

Issued

2014-07-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2014-09-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the appropriate hazard warnings:  (a) ChemStation of the Rockies LLC, at 5015 Paris Street, Denver, CO: On 5/19/14, ChemStation of the Rockies Inc did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the appropriate hazard warnings.  Employees mixed chemicals in the warehouse and mixing station.  Employees used "base" chemicals in these mixtures.  The "base" chemicals were stored in unlabeled secondary containers, including spray bottles and storage carboys.  The employer did not ensure that secondary containers of chemicals were labeled with the appropriate hazard warnings.  This condition exposed employees to a chemical hazard.