OSHA Inspection: U. S. BATTERY MFG. AUGUSTA, INC.

Issued

2023-09-18 00:00:00

Abate by

2023-10-13 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $15625.00 · Current $15000.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(1)(i): Respirators issued for the exclusive use of an employee were not cleaned and disinfected as often as necessary to be maintained in a sanitary condition:  a) Battery Production Line/COS Department- On or about 5/2/2023, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards associated with lead in that, the employer failed to ensure that respirators issued to employees were cleaned and disinfected to be maintained in a sanitary condition when employees were using 3M Half-face respirators and exposed to 105.67�g of lead from the wipe samples taken of the interior section of the respirators during sampling on 5/2/2023.  b) Battery Production Line/COS Department- On or about 5/2/2023, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards associated with lead in that, the employer failed to ensure that respirators issued to employees were cleaned and disinfected to be maintained in a sanitary condition when employees were using 3M Half-face respirators and exposed to 13.11�g of lead from the wipe samples taken of the interior section of the respirators during sampling on 5/2/2023.  c) Battery Production Line/COS Department- On or about 5/2/2023, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards associated with lead in that, the employer failed to ensure that respirators issued to employees were cleaned and disinfected to be maintained in a sanitary condition when employees were using 3M Half-face respirators and exposed to 259.58�g of lead from the wipe samples taken of the interior section of the respirators during sampling on 5/2/2023.

Issued

2023-09-18 00:00:00

Abate by

2023-10-13 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $11162.00 · Current $11000.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1025(c)(1): Employee(s) were exposed to lead at concentrations greater than fifty micrograms per cubic meter of air averaged over an eight-hour period:  a) Battery Production Line/ COS Department- On or about 5/2/2023, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards associated with lead in that, the employer failed to ensure that employees working with lead batteries were not exposed to lead in excess of the permissible exposure limit (PEL) at 50 �g/m3 which was calculated as an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 71.6 �g/m3, during 480 minute sampling performed on 5/2/2023.  b) Battery Production Line/ COS Department- On or about 5/2/2023, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards associated with lead in that, the employer failed to ensure that employees working with lead batteries were not exposed to lead in excess of the permissible exposure limit (PEL) at 50 �g/m3 which was calculated as an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 121 �g/m3, during 480 minute sampling performed on 5/2/2023.  c) Battery Production Line/ COS Department- On or about 5/2/2023, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards associated with lead in that, the employer failed to ensure that employees working with lead batteries were not exposed to lead in excess of the permissible exposure limit (PEL) at 50 �g/m3 which was calculated as an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 189.8 �g/m3, during 480 minute sampling performed on 5/2/2023.  d) Battery Production Line/ COS Department- On or about 5/2/2023, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards associated with lead in that, the employer failed to ensure that employees working with lead batteries were not exposed to lead in excess of the permissible exposure limit (PEL) at 50 �g/m3 which was calculated as an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 471.1 �g/m3, during 480 minute sampling performed on 5/2/2023.

Issued

2023-09-18 00:00:00

Abate by

2023-10-13 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $111620.00 · Current $70000.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1025(e)(1)(i):For any employees exposed to lead above the permissible exposure limit for more than 30 days per year the employer did not implement engineering and work practice controls (including administrative controls) were not implemented to reduce and maintain employee exposure to lead:  a) Battery Production Line/ COS Department- On or about 5/2/2023, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards associated with lead in that, the employer failed to ensure that feasible engineering and work practice controls were provided to reduce and maintain employees' exposures to lead at or below 50�g/m3 of air while employees were operating COS machine and working with lead batteries. Employees were exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 71.6 �g/m3, during a 480 minute sampling performed on 5/2/2023.  b) Battery Production Line/ COS Department- On or about 5/2/2023, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards associated with lead in that, the employer failed to ensure that feasible engineering and work practice controls were provided to reduce and maintain employees' exposures to lead at or below 50�g/m3 of air while employees were operating COS machine and working with lead batteries. Employees were exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 121 �g/m3, during a 480 minute sampling performed on 5/2/2023.  c) Battery Production Line/ COS Department- On or about 5/2/2023, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards associated with lead in that, the employer failed to ensure that feasible engineering and work practice controls were provided to reduce and maintain employees' exposures to lead at or below 50�g/m3 of air while employees were operating COS machine and working with lead batteries. Employees were exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 189.9 �g/m3, during a 480 minute sampling performed on 5/2/2023.  d) Battery Production Line/ COS Department- On or about 5/2/2023, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards associated with lead in that, the employer failed to ensure that feasible engineering and work practice controls were provided to reduce and maintain employees' exposures to lead at or below 50�g/m3 of air while employees were operating COS machine and working with lead batteries. Employees were exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 471.085 �g/m3, during a 480 minute sampling performed on 5/2/2023.  U.S. Battery Mfg. Augusta, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1025(h)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1353891, citation number 2, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on 3/15/19, with respect to a workplace located at 1895 Tobacco Rd, Augusta, GA.

Issued

2023-09-18 00:00:00

Abate by

2023-10-13 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $22320.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1591

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(h)(1): All surfaces were not maintained as free as practicable of accumulations of lead:  a) Battery Production Line/Breakroom- On or about 5/2/2023, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to health hazards associated with lead, in that employer failed to ensure all surfaces were maintained as free as practicable of accumulation of lead when lead contamination found on the tabletop-2nd to last, used for eating, measuring 27.3 �g.  b) Battery Production Line/Breakroom- On or about 5/2/2023, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to health hazards associated with lead, in that employer failed to ensure all surfaces were maintained as free as practicable of accumulation of lead when lead contamination found on the tabletop-last/furthest from entry, used for eating, measuring 14.51 �g.  c) Battery Production Line/Breakroom- On or about 5/2/2023, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to health hazards associated with lead, in that employer failed to ensure all surfaces were maintained as free as practicable of accumulation of lead when lead contamination found on the top of whirlpool cooler, used for eating, measuring 105.87 �g.  U.S. Battery Mfg. Augusta, Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.1025(h)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1353891, citation number 1, item number 7 and was affirmed as a final order on 3/15/19, and was cited again in OSHA inspection number 1441580, citation number 2, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on 01/03/20, with respect to a workplace located at 1895 Tobacco Rd, Augusta, GA.