OSHA Inspection: BENCHMARK CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.

Issued

2018-04-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-07-23 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $12934.00 · Current $9200.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.55(a): Employee(s) were exposed to airborne concentrations of styrene above 100 ppm ceiling limit as listed in the Threshold Limit Values of Airborne Contaminants for 1970 of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists:    a) On October 25, 2017, at the jobsite located at South Park Blvd. & Parkside Cir., Streamwood, IL 60107, an employee engaged in a cured in place pipe lining operation was exposed to styrene in excess of the 15 minute ceiling limit of 100 parts per million (ppm).  The employee was exposed to styrene for up to four hours, working inside a 24 inch diameter horizontal sewer pipe, up to 30 feet away from the manhole.      An employee was exposed to styrene at a concentration ranging between 220 - 270 parts per million (ppm), approximately more than twice the 100 ppm OSHA ceiling limit.  Exposure levels were calculated from blood styrene levels obtained by the medical examiner's office.      The styrene ceiling exposure limit was established to prevent eyes, skin and mucous membrane irritation, and central nervous system (CNS) depression, especially fatigue, headache, loss of coordination, muscle weakness, dizziness, and unconsciousness.     In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

2018-04-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-07-23 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.55(b): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not implemented to reduce employee exposure(s):    a)  On October 25, 2017, at the jobsite located at South Park Blvd. & Parkside Cir., Streamwood, IL 60107, effective engineering and administrative controls were not instituted and maintained by the employer to reduce employee exposure to styrene during a cured in place pipe lining operation performed inside of a 24 inch horizontal sewer pipe, up to 30 feet away from a manhole.  An employee was exposed to styrene concentrations in excess of the ceiling limit.    See instance description in Item 1a of this citation.      Methods of engineering controls and work practices under these circumstances include but are not limited to:    1)  Seek the expertise of a competent individual such as an engineer or  certified industrial hygienist to assess existing controls or work practices.  Obtain recommendations to improve existing controls and work practices.      2)  Use continuous forced air ventilation in any and all employee work areas to reduce hazardous atmospheric concentrations for chemical exposures below any and all applicable OSHA permissible exposure limits.      3)  Evaluate and revise, where applicable, employee work practices, employer developed cured in place pipe work procedures  and administrative controls including but not limited to, allowing adequate time for the ventilation system to eliminate any and all hazardous atmospheres inside the space prior to allowing entry of workers into the space.       4)  Use suitable detectors or alarms, including but not limited to personal and/or remote monitoring devices, to measure and warn employees of styrene and/or any other hazardous atmosphere accumulation in any and all employee work areas.       5)  Where feasible, effective respiratory protection shall be used by the affected employees as an interim protective measure.      In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

2018-04-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1204(d)(1): The employer did not provide testing and monitoring equipment needed to comply with paragraph (e) of this section:    a) On October 25, 2017, at the jobsite located at South Park Blvd. & Parkside Cir., Streamwood, IL 60107, the employer provided an Industrial Scientific Ventis MX4 Multi-Gas Monitor to test and monitor atmospheric hazards in the manhole and 24 inch horizontal sewer pipe in which employees were required to work. The monitor was not manufactured to determine levels of styrene present during the cured in place pipe lining operation inside of the manhole structure and sewer pipe.     In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

2018-04-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1204(e)(1):  Permit confined spaces were not tested to determine if acceptable entry conditions existed before authorized entry was begun:    a)  On October 25, 2017, at the jobsite located at South Park Blvd. & Parkside Cir., Streamwood, IL 60107, the employer utilized an Industrial Scientific MX4 Multi-Gas Monitor which was placed in a 20 feet deep permit required confined space manhole that employees entered. The monitor was not manufactured to detect the presence of styrene. Employee(s) were also required to enter a 24 inch diameter horizontal sewer pipe and no testing was conducted prior to employee entry.      In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

2018-04-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $12934.00 · Current $9000.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1204(b):  The employer did not identify and evaluate the hazards of permit spaces before employees enter them:    a)  On October 25, 2017, at the jobsite located at South Park Blvd. & Parkside Cir., Streamwood, IL 60107, the employer did not identify and evaluate the atmospheric hazards, including but not limited to the presence of styrene inside of the manhole structure and inside of the 24 inch diameter horizontal sewer pipe before employees entered them to perform the cured in place pipe lining operation.     b)  On October 25, 2017, at the jobsite located at South Park Blvd. & Parkside Cir., Streamwood, IL 60107, the employer did not identify and evaluate the physical hazards, including but not limited to the presence of water inside of the manhole structure and inside of the 24 inch diameter horizontal sewer pipe before employees entered them to perform the cured in place pipe lining operation.     In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

2018-04-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $12934.00 · Current $9200.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1204(d)(8): The employer did not provide rescue and emergency equipment necessary for non-entry rescue:    a)  On October 25, 2017, at the jobsite located at South Park Blvd. & Parkside Cir., Streamwood, IL 60107, employees engaged in a cured in place pipe lining operation in a manhole structure and a 24 inch diameter horizontal sewer pipe were not provided with rescue and emergency equipment necessary to rescue two entrants at the same time, in the event of a non-entry rescue.  A single tri-pod with one retrieval line was utilized for two employees who worked in the permit required confined space concurrently.     In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

2018-04-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1211(c)(1): Each authorized entrant did not use a chest or full body harness, with a retrieval line attached at the center of the entrant's back near shoulder level, above the entrant's head, or at another point which the employer can establish presents a profile small enough for the successful removal of the entrant:  a)  On October 25, 2017, at the jobsite located at South Park Blvd. & Parkside Cir., Streamwood, IL 60107, each authorized entrant engaged in a cured in place pipe lining operation was not continuously connected to a retrieval line while working at the bottom of an approximately 20 feet deep manhole structure and inside of a 24 inch diameter horizontal sewer pipe.  A single tri-pod with one retrieval line was utilized for two employees who worked in the permit required confined space concurrently. Neither employee was connected to the retrieval device once they descended into the permit required confined space.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

2018-04-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $12934.00 · Current $9200.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1206(h): The entry permit that documents compliance with this section and authorizes entry to a permit space did not identify the hazards inside of the permit space to be entered:    a)  On October 25, 2017, at the jobsite located at South Park Blvd. & Parkside Cir., Streamwood, IL 60107, the employer did not ensure that the hazards posed by the potential presence of water, inside of the manhole structure and inside of the 24 inch horizontal sewer pipe, were identified and documented on the entry permit during the cured in place pipe lining operation.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

2018-04-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-07-23 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $12934.00 · Current $9200.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1207(a): The employer did not provide training to each employee whose work is regulated by this standard, at no cost to the employee, and did not ensure that the employee possessed the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of duties assigned under this standard:    a)  On October 25, 2017, at the jobsite located at South Park Blvd. & Parkside Cir., Streamwood, IL 60107, the employer did not ensure that employees possessed the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary to perform cured in place pipe lining operation safely, while working inside of the manhole structure and inside of the 24 inch horizontal sewer pipe (permit required confined space).      In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

2018-04-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-05-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1208(a):  The entry employer did not ensure that all authorized entrants are familiar with and understand the hazards that may be faced during entry, including information on the mode, signs or symptoms, and consequences of the exposure:  a)  On October 25, 2017, at the jobsite located at South Park Blvd. & Parkside Cir., Streamwood, IL 60107, the employer did not ensure that the authorized entrants were familiar with and understood the hazards associated with exposure to chemicals, including but not limited to styrene, during the cured in place pipe lining operation.   b)  On October 25, 2017, at the jobsite located at South Park Blvd. & Parkside Cir., Streamwood, IL 60107, the employer did not ensure that the authorized entrants were familiar with and understood the physical hazards, including but not limited to the presence of water during the cured in place pipe lining operation.   In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

2018-04-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-05-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1209(a):  The entry employer did not ensure that each attendant is familiar with and understands the hazards that may be faced during entry, including information on the mode, signs or symptoms, and consequences of the exposure:  a)  On October 25, 2017, at the jobsite located at South Park Blvd. & Parkside Cir., Streamwood, IL 60107, the employer did not ensure that each attendant was familiar with and understood the hazards associated with exposure to chemicals, including but not limited to styrene, during the cured in place pipe lining operation.   b)  On October 25, 2017, at the jobsite located at South Park Blvd. & Parkside Cir., Streamwood, IL 60107, the employer did not ensure that each attendant was familiar with and understood the physical hazards, including but not limited to the presence of water during the cured in place pipe lining operation.   In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

2018-04-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-05-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1210(a):  The entry employer did not ensure that each entry supervisor is familiar with and understands the hazards that may be faced during entry, including information on the mode, signs or symptoms, and consequences of the exposure:  a)  On October 25, 2017, at the jobsite located at South Park Blvd. & Parkside Cir., Streamwood, IL 60107, the employer did not ensure that the entry supervisor was familiar with and understood the hazards associated with exposure to chemicals, including but not limited to styrene, during the cured in place pipe lining operation.   b)  On October 25, 2017, at the jobsite located at South Park Blvd. & Parkside Cir., Streamwood, IL 60107, the employer did not ensure that the entry supervisor was familiar with and understood the physical hazards, including but not limited to the presence of water during the cured in place pipe lining operation.   In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

2018-04-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $12934.00 · Current $9200.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1210(d):  The entry employer did not ensure that each entry supervisor verifies that rescue services are available and that the means for summoning them are operable, and that the company will be notified as soon as the services become unavailable:    a)  On October 25, 2017, at the jobsite located at South Park Blvd. & Parkside Cir., Streamwood, IL 60107, the entry supervisor elected to contact 911 in the event a rescue was needed from a permit required confined space.  This sole means did not ensure that responding rescue services were available and that the means for summoning them were operable, and that the company would be notified as soon as the responding rescue services become unavailable.      In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

2018-04-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1211(a)(1): An employer who designated rescue and emergency services did not evaluate a prospective rescuer's ability to respond to a rescue summons in a timely manner, considering the hazard(s) identified:  a)  On October 25, 2017, at the jobsite located at South Park Blvd. & Parkside Cir., Streamwood, IL 60107, the employer elected to contact 911 in the event a rescue was needed from a permit required confined space.  This sole means of communication did not ensure that responding rescue services could respond in a timely manner according to the specific hazards involved with entry.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

2018-04-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2018-04-27 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1211(a)(2): An employer who designated rescue and emergency services did not evaluate a prospective rescue service's ability, in terms of proficiency with rescue-related tasks and equipment, to function appropriately while rescuing entrants from the particular permit space or types of permit spaces identified:    a)  On October 25, 2017, at the jobsite located at South Park Blvd. & Parkside Cir., Streamwood, IL 60107, the employer elected to contact 911 in the event a rescue was needed from a permit required confined space.  This means of communication did not ensure that rescue services which would respond had the ability in terms of proficiency with rescue-related tasks and equipment, to function appropriately while rescuing entrants from the particular permit space or types of permit spaces identified.     In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.