OSHA Inspection: DIXON INVESTMENTS, INC.

Issued

2015-08-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-09-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $1680.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1730

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) Line 3 Mixing Room; One employee exposed to methylene chloride in excess of the short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 125 parts per million (ppm) was required to wear a full-face air-purifying respirator. The employer had not provided employees required to wear respirators with medical evaluations prior to fit testing or wearing the respirators.  Employees were required to wear 3M air-purifying respirators with organic vapor cartridges (#6003) while performing mixing and cleaning activities.  b) Line 3; Seven employees were required to wear Moldex 2400 N95 particulate respirators when handling aerosol cans filled with mixtures containing methylene chloride.  c) Line 1 Mixing Room; Two employees were required to wear 3M air-purifying respirators with organic vapor cartridges (#6003) while performing mixing and cleaning activities.  d) Line 1; Employees were required to wear Gerson 1730 N95 disposable respirators while handling aerosol cans filled with mixtures containing n-pentane.

Issued

2015-08-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-09-25 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) Line 3 Mixing Room; One employee exposed to methylene chloride in excess of the short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 125 parts per million (ppm) was required to wear a full-face air-purifying respirator prior to being fit tested.  Employees were required to wear 3M air-purifying respirators with organic vapor cartridges (#6003) while performing mixing and cleaning activities.  b) Line 3; Seven employees were required to wear Moldex 2400 N95 particulate respirators when handling aerosol cans filled with mixtures containing methylene chloride.  c) Line 1 Mixing Room; Two employees were required to wear 3M air-purifying respirators with organic vapor cartridges (#6003) while performing mixing and cleaning activities.  d) Line 1; Seven employees were required to wear Gerson 1730 N95 disposable respirators while handling filled aerosol cans.

Issued

2015-08-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-09-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $2100.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(3): Training was not provided prior to requiring employees to use a respirator in the workplace:  a) Line 3 Mixing Room; One employee exposed to methylene chloride in excess of the short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 125 parts per million (ppm) was required to wear a full-face air-purifying respirator prior to being fit tested.  Employees were required to wear 3M air-purifying respirators with organic vapor cartridges (#6003) while performing mixing and cleaning activities.  b) Line 3; Seven employees were required to wear Moldex 2400 N95 particulate respirators when handling aerosol cans filled with mixtures containing methylene chloride.  c) Line 1 Mixing Room; Two employees were required to wear 3M air-purifying respirators with organic vapor cartridges (#6003) while performing mixing and cleaning activities.  d) Line 1; Seven employees were required to wear Gerson 1730 N95 disposable respirators while handling filled aerosol cans.

Issued

2015-08-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-10-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $2940.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(c)(2): The employer did not ensure that no employee was exposed to an airborne concentration of methylene chloride in excess of 125 parts per million as determined over a sampling period of 15 minutes:  a) Mixing Room 3: An employee was exposed to excess airborne concentrations of methylene chloride while adding methylene chloride to a mixture to formulate an aerosol sprays.  The employee working in the mixing room was exposed to methylene chloride at 569.5212 parts per million (ppm),  which is an equivalent of 4.56 times the Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL) of 125 ppm.  The exposure level was derived from a fifteen minute sample collected on June 9, 2015. The employees was exposed to the hazards of light headedness and eye, nose, throat, and skin irritation from methylene chloride.  b) Mixing Room 3: An employee was exposed to excess airborne concentrations of methylene chloride while adding methylene chloride to a mixture to formulate an aerosol sprays  The employee working in the mixing room was exposed to methylene chloride at 259.027 parts per million (ppm),  which is an equivalent of 2.07 times the Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL) of 125 ppm.  The exposure level was derived from a fifteen minute sample collected on June 9, 2015. Employees were exposed to the hazards of light headedness and eye, nose, throat, and skin irritation from methylene chloride.

Issued

2015-08-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-10-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 1730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(d)(2): The employer did not perform initial monitoring to determine each employee's exposure to methylene chloride:  a) Mixing Room 3: Initial air monitoring was not conducted during the mixing process to identify employees who may be exposed at or above the action level, or at or above the Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL) for methylene chloride.

Issued

2015-08-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-09-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 1730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(e)(2): The employer did not limit access to regulated areas to authorized persons:  a) Line 3 Mixing Room; A regulated area was not limited to restrict access to the mixing area where one employee was exposed to methylene chloride in excess of the short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 125 parts per million (ppm).

Issued

2015-08-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-10-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 1730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(f)(1): The employer did not institute and maintain the effectiveness of engineering controls and work practices to reduce employee exposure to or below the permissible exposure limits:  a) Line 3 Mixing Room; Engineering controls and work practices were not instituted to reduce exposure levels for an employee exposed to methylene chloride in excess of the short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 125 parts per million (ppm).

Issued

2015-08-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-09-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $2100.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(g)(2)(i): The employer did not implement a respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134 (b) through (m) (except (d)(1)(iii)), which covers each employee required by 29 CFR 1910.1052 to use a respirator:   a) Line 3 Mixing Room; One employee exposed to methylene chloride in excess of the short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 125 parts per million (ppm) was required to wear a full-face, air-purifying respirator. The employer had not established or implemented a written Respiratory Protection Program.  Employees were required to wear 3M air-purifying respirators with organic vapor cartridges (#6003) while performing mixing and cleaning activities.    b) Line 3; Seven employees were required to wear Moldex 2400 N95 particulate respirators when handling aerosol cans filled with mixtures containing methylene chloride.  Half mask respirators may not be used because methylene chloride may cause eye irritation or damage.  c) Line 1 Mixing Room; Two employees were required to wear 3M air-purifying respirators with organic vapor cartridges (#6003) while performing mixing and cleaning activities.

Issued

2015-08-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-09-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 1730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(g)(3)(i): The employer did not select and provide to employees, the appropriate atmosphere-supplying respirator specified in 29 CFR 1910.134(d)(3)(i)(A) and selected or used half masks:  a) Line 3 Mixing Room; One employee exposed to methylene chloride in excess of the short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 125 parts per million (ppm) was required to wear a full-face, air-purifying respirator. The employer had not established or implemented a written Respiratory Protection Program.  Employees were required to wear 3M air-purifying respirators with organic vapor cartridges (#6003) while performing mixing and cleaning activities.  Air-purifying respirators are not permitted due to the short service life of chemical cartridges when used for methylene chloride exposure.   b) Line 3; Seven employees were required to wear Moldex 2400 N95 particulate respirators when handling aerosol cans filled with mixtures containing methylene chloride.  Half mask respirators may not be used because methylene chloride may cause eye irritation or damage.  c) Line 1 Mixing Room; Two employees were required to wear 3M air-purifying respirators with organic vapor cartridges (#6003) while performing mixing and cleaning activities.

Issued

2015-08-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-09-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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) Line 1 Mixing Room; Two employees were required to wear 3M air-purifying respirators with organic vapor cartridges (#6003) while performing mixing and cleaning activities.  b) Line 1; Employees were required to wear Gerson 1730 N95 disposable respirators while handling aerosol cans filled with mixtures containing n-pentane.

Issued

2015-08-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-09-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $1680.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(h)(1): Where needed to prevent methylene chloride induced skin or eye irritation, the employer did not provide clean protective clothing and equipment resistant to methylene chloride, at no cost to the employee, and/or did not ensure that each affected employee used it:  a) Line 1 and Line 3 Mixing Rooms: The employer failed to provide protective clothing to employees handling methylene chloride to formulate an aerosol mixture.  Employees were exposed to the hazards of skin irritation.

Issued

2015-08-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-09-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(a): The employer did not select and require employee(s) to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands were exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasion; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes.  a) Line 1 and Line 3 Mixing Rooms: The employer failed to provide suitable gloves resistant to methylene chloride to employees handling methylene chloride to formulate an aerosol mixture.  Employees were exposed to the hazards of skin sensitivity and irritation.

Issued

2015-08-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-10-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $2100.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(j)(1)(i): The employer did not make medical surveillance available for employees who were or potentially were  exposed to methylene chloride at or above the action level on 30 or more days per year, or above the 8-hour time weighted average permissible exposure limit or the short term exposure limit on 10 or more days per year:  a) Lines 1 and 3 Mixing Rooms: Medical surveillance was not provided to five employees that were exposed or potentially exposed to methylene chloride in excess of the short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 125 parts per million (ppm).  An employee was exposed to excess airborne concentrations of methylene chloride while adding methylene chloride to a mixture to formulate an aerosol spray. The employee working in Mixing Room 3 was exposed to methylene chloride at 259.027 parts per million (ppm),  which is an equivalent of 2.07 times the Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL) of 125 ppm.  The exposure level was derived from a fifteen minute sample collected on June 9, 2015. Employees were exposed to the hazards of light headedness and eye, nose, throat, and skin irritation from methylene chloride.

Issued

2015-08-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-10-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 1730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(j)(4)(i): The employer did not make medical surveillance available to each affected employee before the time of initial assignment:  a) Lines 1 and 3 Mixing Rooms: Medical surveillance was not provided to five employees prior to performing mixing and cleaning activities.  An employee was exposed to excess airborne concentrations of methylene chloride above the Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL) of 125 ppm.

Issued

2015-08-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-10-19 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $1680.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1730

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1052(l)(3)(i): The employer did not inform each affected employee of the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.1052 and the information available in its appendices and/or how to access or obtain a copy of it in the workplace:  a) Line 1 and Line 3 Mixing Rooms: Employees exposed to methylene chloride in excess of the short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 125 parts per million (ppm) while performing mixing and cleaning activities were not provided with information and training regarding the physical and health hazards of methylene chloride, the requirements of the methylene chloride standard and the information available in its appendices.

Issued

2015-08-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-09-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $2100.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): Employer had not developed or implemented a written hazard communication program included the requirements outlined in 29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1)(i) and (e)(1)(ii):   a) Throughout: The employer had not established or implemented a written Hazard Communication program.  Employees were exposed to hazardous substances such as, but not limited to, mixtures containing methylene chloride, hexamethyldisiloxane, n-pentane, methylal, acetone, and Zep Morado Super Cleaner.

Issued

2015-08-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-09-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:  a) Throughout: The employer did not provide training specific to the hazards of chemicals used at the establishment to all employees working with hazardous chemicals.  Employees were exposed to hazardous substances such as, but not limited to, mixtures containing methylene chloride, hexamethyldisiloxane, n-pentane, methylal, acetone, and Zep Morado Super Cleaner.

Issued

2015-08-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-09-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6)(ii): Except as provided in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(7) and 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(8), the employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals and which, in conjunction with the other information immediately available to employees under the hazard communication program, would provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical.  a) Line 1 Warehouse; Employees were required to refill their spray bottles with Zep Morado Super Cleaner from an incorrectly labeled container.  An employee used Zep Morado Super Cleaner to clean tanks containing remnants of aerosols.