OSHA Inspection: CHECKERS INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, LLC

Issued

2015-09-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-04 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7000.00 · Current $4200.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8330

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 worked around thermal presses, for 8-12 hours per day, exposing them to excessive heat which could result in heat related illnesses:      a.) Checkers Industrial Products, LLC DBA Alturnamats, Inc., Main Production- On or about September 15, 2015, employees operating thermal presses 1 and 2 were exposed to excessive heat throughout their work-shift with an hourly time weighted average heat exposure of 94.7 degrees Fahrenheit wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT).        b.) Checkers Industrial Products, LLC DBA Alturnamats, Inc., Main Production- On or about September 15, 2015, cleaners were exposed to excessive heat throughout their work-shift with an  hourly time weighted average heat exposure of 89.0 degrees Fahrenheit wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT).        c.) Checkers Industrial Products, LLC DBA Alturnamats, Inc., Main Production- On or about September 15, 2015, Flamer helpers were exposed to excessive heat throughout their work-shift with an hourly time weighted average heat exposure of 82.5 degrees Fahrenheit wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT).                ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED    1. Utilize appropriate tools (e.g., heat stress meter) to evaluate environmental conditions at worksites.  Ensure that managers are provided with effective training to operate these tools and interpret their data.      2. Implement an effective heat illness prevention program pursuant to which adjustments are made to employee work schedules and work duties for all employees when working conditions become, or are expected to become, potentially hazardous.  Ensure that site managers are effectively trained to implement and enforce this heat illness prevention program.      3. Implement, enforce, and ensure that employees follow a work/rest regimen in accordance with the American Conference of Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) 2014 Permissible Heat Exposure Threshold Limit Values (TLVs).  Ensure that supervisors are effectively trained to implement and enforce this work/rest regimen.      4. Provide mandatory training for all employees regarding the heat illness prevention program, the health effects associated with heat stress, recognizing symptoms of heat related illnesses, methods of preventing such illnesses, and the importance of employees reporting any symptoms of heat related illnesses to their supervisors.    5. Provide mandatory training for all managers and supervisors regarding how to effectively recognize symptoms of heat related illnesses in others and the procedures to follow when an employee appears to be suffering from symptoms of heat related illness.      6. Provide worksite with a cool area (e.g., air conditioned room) for employees to take their breaks.        7. Implement a heat acclimatization program for new employees, for employees returning to work from absences of four or more days, and for employees who are moved from cool jobs to hotter jobs.       8. Permit only those workers acclimatized to heat to perform the more strenuous tasks. Rotate physically demanding job tasks among acclimatized workers.    9. Continue to ensure that cool drinking water and/or other hydrating beverages are readily available to employees working in hot environments.  Encourage employees to drink 5 to 7 ounces of cool water every 15 to 20 minutes.

Issued

2015-09-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-04 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5000.00 · Current $3000.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(5)(i): The employer did not establish, within 6 months of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level, a valid baseline audiogram against which subsequent audiograms can be compared:    a) Checkers  Industrial Products, LLC DBA Alturnamats, Inc.- On or about September 15, 2015, a cleaner was exposed to a mixed noise level of 89.2 dBA or an equivalent dose of 89.4%, as an 8-hour TWA, while using a hand held grinder.  Noise exposure levels were derived from measurements performed for 462 minutes, and assumed zero exposure for the remainder of the work shift. The employer had not obtained baseline audiograms for employees hired after March 2014.

Issued

2015-09-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-04 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(6): At least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram, the employer did not obtain a new audiogram for each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels :   a) Checkers  Industrial Products, LLC DBA Alturnamats, Inc.- On or about September 15, 2015, a cleaner was exposed to a mixed noise level of 89.2 dBA or an equivalent dose of 89.4%, as an 8-hour TWA, while using a hand held grinder.  Noise exposure levels were derived from measurements performed for 462 minutes, and assumed zero exposure for the remainder of the work shift. The employer had not obtained annual audiograms for all affected employees since March 2014.

Issued

2015-09-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-04 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5000.00 · Current $3000.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1): The employer did not train each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95:      a) Checkers  Industrial Products, LLC DBA Alturnamats, Inc.- On or about September 15, 2015, a cleaner was exposed to a mixed noise level of 89.2 dBA or an equivalent dose of 89.4%, as an 8-hour TWA, while using a hand held grinder.  Noise exposure levels were derived from measurements performed for 462 minutes, and assumed zero exposure for the remainder of the work shift. The company did not provide hearing conservation training for all affected employees.

Issued

2015-09-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-04 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(2): The hearing conservation training program was not repeated annually for each employee included in the hearing conservation program:   a) Checkers  Industrial Products, LLC DBA Alturnamats, Inc.- On or about September 15, 2015, a cleaner was exposed to a mixed noise level of 89.2 dBA or an equivalent dose of 89.4%, as an 8-hour TWA, while using a hand held grinder.  Noise exposure levels were derived from measurements performed for 462 minutes, and assumed zero exposure for the remainder of the work shift. The company did not provide annual hearing conservation training for affected employees. Hearing conservation training was last provided March 2014.

Issued

2015-09-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-04 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(i)(3): Employees were not given the opportunity to select their hearing protectors from a variety of suitable hearing protectors provided by the employer:   a) Checkers  Industrial Products, LLC DBA Alturnamats, Inc.- On or about September 15, 2015, a cleaner was exposed to a mixed noise level of 89.2 dBA or an equivalent dose of 89.4%, as an 8-hour TWA, while using a hand held grinder.  Noise exposure levels were derived from measurements performed for 462 minutes, and assumed zero exposure for the remainder of the work shift. Employees were not given the opportunity to select their hearing protectors from a variety of suitable hearing protectors. In that, only one type, Howard Lite Laser Lite brand disposable ear plugs, were available.  No other type of ear plug or muff was available.

Issued

2015-09-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4000.00 · Current $2400.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 05609135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:      a.) Checkers  Industrial Products, LLC DBA Alturnamats, Inc. - On or about September 1, 2015, and times prior thereto: Employees worked with or around hazardous chemicals including, but not limited to, propane, plastic resins, carbon monoxide and plastic particulates during mat production. The employer had not developed and implemented a written Hazard Communication Program.

Issued

2015-09-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 05609135

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.) Checkers  Industrial Products, LLC DBA Alturnamats, Inc. - On or about September 1, 2015, and times prior thereto: Employees worked with or around hazardous chemicals including, but not limited to, propane, plastic resins, carbon monoxide and plastic particulates during mat production. The Company had not provided employees with effective information and training about hazardous chemicals in the workplace.

Issued

2015-09-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-11-04 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(l)(1): The employer did not make available to affected employees or their representatives copies of 29 CFR 1910.95:  a) Checkers  Industrial Products, LLC DBA Alturnamats, Inc.- On or about September 15, 2015, a cleaner was exposed to a mixed noise level of 89.2 dBA or an equivalent dose of 89.4%, as an 8-hour TWA, while using a hand held grinder.  Noise exposure levels were derived from measurements performed for 462 minutes, and assumed zero exposure for the remainder of the work shift. A copy of 29 CFR 1910.95 was not available in the facility.