OSHA Inspection: AMERICAN BORATE COMPANY

Issued

2015-01-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-02-20 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4200.00 · Current $2730.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

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) 4100 Buell St, Chesapeake, VA 23324: On or about December 8, 2014, and times prior thereto, the employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program for the ulexite/colemanite load-out operators who were exposed to continuous noise levels in excess of the allowable 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 85dbA. This violation was observed on or about December 8, 2014, where noise sampling performed for 413 minutes indicated that employees were exposed in excess of 120% noise dose which is equivalent to 91.3 dbA. Zero exposure was assumed for the 67 minutes not sampled, exposing employees to hearing loss.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

2015-01-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-02-11 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4200.00 · Current $2730.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(a)(2): The employer did not establish and maintain a respiratory protection program which included the requirements outlined in 29 CFR 1910.134(c):    a) 4100 Buell St, Chesapeake, VA 23324: On or about December 8, 2014, and times prior thereto, the employer did not establish and maintain a written respiratory protection program to ensure that each employee exposed to particulates not otherwise regulated in excess of the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit wore a suitable respirator, exposing employees to respiratory irritation and lung disease.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

2015-01-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-03-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(c): An employee(s) was exposed to total dust in excess of the 8-hour time weighted average limits of 15mg/m3 listed in Table Z-3:    a) 4100 Buell St, Chesapeake, VA 23324: On or about December 8, 2014, and times prior thereto, employees were exposed to particulates not otherwise regulated from ulexite (sodium-calcium pentaborate octahydrate) and colemanite at an 8-hour time weighted average of up to 220 mg/m3, approximately 14.6 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit, exposing employees to respiratory irritation and lung disease.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

2015-01-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-03-07 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 achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):  a) 4100 Buell St, Chesapeake, VA 23324: On or about December 8, 2014, and times prior thereto, the employer did not determine and implement feasible administrative or engineering controls where employees operated the ulexite/colemanite load-out system, to achieve compliance with the PEL for particulates not otherwise regulated, exposing employees to respiratory irritation and lung disease.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

2015-01-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-03-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4200.00 · Current $2730.00 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:    a) 4100 Buell St, Chesapeake, VA 23324: On or about December 8, 2014, and times prior thereto, the employer did not establish and maintain a written respiratory protection program for employees who were required to wear respirators, exposing employees to respiratory irritation and lung disease.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

2015-01-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-03-07 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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) 4100 Buell St, Chesapeake, VA 23324: On or about December 8, 2014, and times prior thereto, the employer did not provide a medical evaluation for employees who were required to wear a respirator for the ulexite/colemanite load-out operation, exposing employees to respiratory irritation and lung disease.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

2015-01-15 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-03-07 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) 4100 Buell St, Chesapeake, VA 23324: On or about December 8, 2014, and times prior thereto, the employer did not provide a fit-test for employees who were required to wear a respirator for the ulexite/colemanite load-out operation prior to initial use, exposing employees to respiratory irritation and lung disease.    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.