OSHA Inspection: TOKAI CARBON CB, LTD.

Issued

2023-09-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2023-10-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $12055.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0527

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1000(a)(2):Other substances -- 8-hour Time Weighted Averages. An employee's exposure to any substance in Table Z-1, the exposure limit of which is not preceded by a "C", shall not exceed the 8-hour Time Weighted Average given for that substance any 8-hour work shift of a 40-hour work week.  a. On or about, and at times prior to June 21, 2023, an employee working in the production of carbon black at the Tokai Facility in Borger TX and acting as an attendant for maintenance was exposed to carbon black in excess of the 8-hour time weighted average limit (TWA) for the permissible exposure limit provided in Table Z-1: An employee performing maintenance/electricity duties was exposed to an 8-hour TWA for carbon black of approximately 230.00 milligrams per cubic meter air during a 458 minutes sampling period. This exposure level was approximately 65.71 times the calculated permissible exposure limit of 3.500 milligrams per cubic meter air.  b. On or about, and at times prior to June 21, 2023, an employee working in the production of total dust at the Tokai Facility in Borger TX and acting as an attendant for maintenance was exposed to total dust in excess of the 8-hour time weighted average limit (TWA) for the permissible exposure limit provided in Table Z-1: An employee performing maintenance/electricity duties was exposed to an 8-hour TWA for total dust of approximately 260.00 milligrams per cubic meter air during a 458 minutes sampling period. This exposure level was approximately 17.33  times the calculated permissible exposure limit of 15.00 milligrams per cubic meter air.

Issued

2023-09-07 00:00:00

Abate by

2023-10-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 0527

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1000(e): To achieve compliance with paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section, administrative or engineering controls must first be determined and implemented whenever feasible. When such controls are not feasible to achieve full compliance, protective equipment or any other protective measures shall be used to keep the exposure of employees to air contaminants within the limits prescribed in this section. Any equipment and/or technical measures used for this purpose must be approved for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. Whenever respirators are used, their use shall comply with 1910.134.  a. On or about, and at times prior to June 21, 2023, an employee working in the production of carbon black at the Tokai Facility in Borger TX and acting as an attendant for maintenance was exposed to carbon black in excess of the 8-hour time weighted average limit (TWA) for the permissible exposure limit provided in Table Z-1: An employee performing maintenance/electricity duties was exposed to an 8-hour TWA for carbon black of approximately 230.00 milligrams per cubic meter air during a 458 minutes sampling period. This exposure level was approximately 65.71 times the calculated permissible exposure limit of 3.500 milligrams per cubic meter air. The employer failed to implemented engineering controls to avoid or minimized the overexposure to carbon black  b. On or about, and at times prior to June 21, 2023, an employee working in the production of total dust at the Tokai Facility in Borger TX and acting as an attendant for maintenance was exposed to total dust in excess of the 8-hour time weighted average limit (TWA) for the permissible exposure limit provided in Table Z-1: An employee performing maintenance/electricity duties was exposed to an 8-hour TWA for total dust of approximately 260.00 milligrams per cubic meter air during a 458 minutes sampling period. This exposure level was approximately 17.33  times the calculated permissible exposure limit of 15.00 milligrams per cubic meter air. The employer failed to implemented engineering controls to avoid or minimized the overexposure to total dust.