OSHA Inspection: FLINK COMPANY

Issued

2015-01-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-02-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5390.00 · Current $5390.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(c): Employees were exposed to an airborne concentration of chromium (VI) which exceeded 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, as an 8-hour time-weighted average:    On August 4, 2014, the plasma cutter operator was exposed to chromium (VI) at an 8-hour time-weighted average of 10.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, approximately 2.1 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air; This limit has been established to prevent an increased risk of cancer, irritation, and sensitization to the lungs, throat, nose, eyes, and skin. The sample was collected over a 434 minute sampling period, with an assumed exposure of zero for the remaining 46 minutes.      Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

2015-01-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-02-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(f)(1)(i): Feasible engineering controls and work practices were not instituted to reduce and maintain employee exposures to chromium (VI) at or below the permissible exposure limit:    The employer did not install engineering controls that effectively reduced and maintained the exposure of the plasma cutter operator to hexavalent chromium. On August 4, 2014, the plasma cutter operator was exposed to chromium (VI) at an 8-hour time-weighted average of 10.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, approximately 2.1 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, with an assumed exposure of zero for the remaining 46 minutes.      Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

2015-01-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-02-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(g)(1)(i): The employer did not provide each employee an appropriate respirator during periods necessary to install or implement feasible engineering and work practice controls:  The employer did not provide respiratory protection to the plasma cutter operator during the period of time when the new ventilation system was being ordered and installed. On August 4, 2014, the plasma cutter operator was exposed to chromium (VI) at an 8-hour time-weighted average of 10.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, approximately 2.1 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, with an assumed exposure of zero for the remaining 46 minutes.  Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

2015-01-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-03-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5390.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(d)(1): The employer with a workplace or work operation covered by this standard did not determine the 8-hour time-weighted average exposure for each employee exposed to chromium (VI):    The employer did not perform initial monitoring to determine the 8-hour TWA exposure to hexavalent chromium for the employee that operates the plasma cutter where stainless steel is cut into components used in fabrication. On August 4, 2014, the plasma cutter operator was exposed to chromium (VI) at an 8-hour time-weighted average of 10.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, approximately 2.1 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air; This limit has been established to prevent an increased risk of cancer, irritation, and sensitization to the lungs, throat, nose, eyes, and skin. The sample was collected over a 434 minute sampling period, with an assumed exposure of zero for the remaining 46 minutes.        Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

2015-01-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-02-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5390.00 · Current $5390.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(e)(1): The employer did not establish a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of chromium (VI) was, or could reasonably be expected to be, in excess of the permissible exposure limit:  The employer did not establish a regulated area near the plasma cutter, where a sampled employee was overexposed to hexavalent chromium. The ventilation system on the plasma cutter did not sufficiently remove hexavalent chromium-containing fume and smoke from cutting operations, exposing employees to hexavalent chromium. On August 4, 2014, the plasma cutter operator was exposed to chromium (VI) at an 8-hour time-weighted average of 10.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, approximately 2.1 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, with an assumed exposure of zero for the remaining 46 minutes.    Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

2015-01-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-02-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5390.00 · Current $5390.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(h)(2)(i): The employer did not ensure that employees removed all protective clothing and equipment contaminated with chromium (VI) at the end of the work shift or at the completion of their tasks involving chromium (VI) exposure, whichever came first:    The employer did not ensure that protective clothing and equipment used by the plasma cutter operator in daily operations was removed at the end of the work shift or completion of tasks involving chromium (VI) exposure, where the employee operating the plasma cutter was overexposed to hexavalent chromium. On August 4, 2014, the plasma cutter operator was exposed to chromium (VI) at an 8-hour time-weighted average of 10.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, approximately 2.1 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, with an assumed exposure of zero for the remaining 46 minutes.      Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

2015-01-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-02-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5390.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(i)(3)(ii): The employer did not ensure that employees who had skin contact with  chromium (VI) wash their hands and faces at the end of the work shift and/or prior to eating, drinking, smoking, chewing tobacco or gum, applying cosmetics, or using the toilet:    The employer did not ensure that the employee operating the plasma cutter who came into skin contact with chromium (VI) on a routine basis were washing their hands and faces.      Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

2015-01-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-02-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5390.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(j)(3)(i): The employer did not ensure that waste, scrap, debris, and any other materials contaminated with chromium (VI) and cosigned for disposal were collected and disposed of in sealed, impermeable bags or other closed, impermeable containers:    The employer provided a ventilation system for the plasma cutter that required the manual removal and replacement of hexavalent chromium contaminated filters. The filters were left adjacent to the ventilation system, and were not disposed of in sealed, impermeable bags or other closed, impermeable containers.         Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

2015-01-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-02-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5390.00 · Current $5390.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(k)(1)(i)(A): The employer did not make medical surveillance available for all employees who were or could be occupationally exposed to chromium (VI) at or above the action level for 30 or more days a year:    The employee operating the plasma cutter was overexposed during the course of the inspection and the employer did not make medical surveillance available for the overexposed employee. The employee had been operating the plasma cutter for at least 31 days at the time sampling was conducted. On August 4, 2014, the plasma cutter operator was exposed to chromium (VI) at an 8-hour time-weighted average of 10.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, approximately 2.1 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, with an assumed exposure of zero for the remaining 46 minutes.      Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

2015-01-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-02-21 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5390.00 · Current $5390.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1026(l)(1)(ii): The employer did not address at least the following hazards with employees exposed to hexavalent chromium: Cancer, eye irritation, and skin sensitization:    The employer did not train the employee operating the plasma cutter on the hazards of hexavalent chromium. On August 4, 2014, the plasma cutter operator was exposed to chromium (VI) at an 8-hour time-weighted average of 10.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, approximately 2.1 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, with an assumed exposure of zero for the remaining 46 minutes.    Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).