OSHA Inspection: BI-QEM, INC.

Issued

2022-07-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-09-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $10360.00 · Current $5360.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances E200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a): Protective equipment was not used when necessary when a hazard of processes or environment capable of causing injury or impairment of the body through physical contact was encountered:  Feed Screw and Ball Mill Area - On or about February 17, 2022, production employees did not wear flame- retardant and non-static-generating clothing in an area where combustible dust was present.

Issued

2022-07-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-09-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $10360.00 · Current $5360.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances E200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.307(c): Electrical equipment in a hazardous (classified) location was not intrinsically safe, approved for the hazardous (classified) location, or safe for the hazardous (classified) location.  In the Feed Screw Area and Ball Mill Areas at 238 Nonotuck Street, Florence, MA, on or about February 17, 2022: Electrical outlet boxes, breaker panels, forklifts and portable radios in a Class II, Division 1 location, were not intrinsically safe, approved for a Class II, Division I, location, or safe for a Class II, Division I, location.

Issued

2022-07-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-10-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $20720.00 · Current $19280.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances E200

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): All places of employment, passageways, storerooms, service rooms, and walking-working surfaces were not kept in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition:  In the Feed Screw Area and Ball Mill Areas at 238 Nonotuck Street, Florence, MA, on and before February 17, 2022 more than 5% of the area of the room had combustible dust accumulation exceeding 1/32" thick, with accumulation up to 1.25".  The surfaces with dust accumulation included but were not limited to:  ducts, conduits, feed screw system, and other elevated horizontal surfaces.  Bi-Qem, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this Occupational Safety and Health Standard, 1910.22(a)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1420419, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on 02/10/2020, with respect to a workplace located at 238 Nonotuck Street, Florence, MA.

Issued

2022-07-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-09-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(2):Employee(s) using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator were not annually fit tested:   On or about February 17, 2022  employees working at 238 Nonotuck Street, Florence, MA,  were required by the employer to wear a tight-fitting facepiece respirators (half-face or full face) and were not annually fit tested. Employees were required to use the tight-fitting respirators whenever exposures to formaldehyde are expected based on the task on hand and while working in the Wet End production areas.

Issued

2022-07-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-09-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(m)(1):Records of medical evaluations required by 29 CFR 1910.134 were not retained and made available in accordance with 1910.1020:  In the facility at 238 Nonotuck Street, Florence, MA, on and before February 7, 2022 employees were required to wear elastomeric respirators to work in the Production Areas such as the Wet-End Area and the employer did not retained and made available records of medical evaluations upon request.