OSHA Inspection: ESSITY PROFESSIONAL HYGIENE NORTH AMERICA, LLC

Issued

2025-08-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-09-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $16550.00 · Current $16550.00

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(1)(i): The employer did not select and have each affected employee use, the types of personal protective equipment that would protect the affected employee(s) from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment:   Washroom:  (a) On or about February 28, 2025, and at times prior, the employer did not require employees conducting job operations in the washroom to wear respiratory protection when employees were known to be exposed to levels of formaldehyde above the OSHA TWA of  0.75 ppm and STEL of 2 ppm.

Issued

2025-08-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-10-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $11823.00 · Current $11823.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(2): The employer shall ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator is fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) is used, and at least annually thereafter.  Foam Room Department:   (a) On or about February 28, 2025, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that all employees who were required to wear a tight-fitting respirator while conducting normal job operations were given a fit test prior to initial use of the respirator.

Issued

2025-08-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-10-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A): Respirators with tight-fitting facepieces were worn by employees who had facial hair that came between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interfered with valve function:  Foam Room Department:  (a) On or about February 28, 2025, and at times prior, employees were exposed to potential chemical hazards while wearing a mandatory full-face respirator with facial hair that interfered with the seal. Employees wear respirators with long facial hair while working with formaldehyde to make medical foam products.

Issued

2025-08-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-09-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $16550.00 · Current $16550.00

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1048(d)(6):Employees were not notified within 15 working days of receiving the results of formaldehyde exposure monitoring, in writing, either by distributing copies of the results to the employees or by posting the results:  Foam Room Department:   (a) On or about August 25, 2025, and at times prior, the employer did not notify employees working the foam room of their exposure to formaldehyde within 15 working days of receipt of results.  Washroom  (b) On or about August 25, 2025, and at times prior, the employer did not notify employees working in  the washroom of their exposure to formaldehyde within 15 working days of receipt of results.

Issued

2025-08-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-10-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7093.00 · Current $7093.00

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1048(e)(1)(i): The employer shall establish regulated areas where the concentration of airborne formaldehyde exceeds either the TWA or the STEL and post all entrances and access ways with signs bearing the following legend:  DANGER FORMALDEHYDE MAY CAUSE CANCER CAUSES SKIN, EYE, AND RESPIRATORY IRRITATION AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY  Foam Room Department:  (a)  On or about February 28, 2025, and at times prior, the employer did not establish regulated areas at all entrances to the foam room where the concentration of airborne formaldehyde exceeded either the TWA or the STEL and/or did not post at all entrances and access ways with signs as required.  Washroom:  (b) On or about February 28, 2025, and at times prior, the employer did not establish regulated areas at all entrances to the washroom where the concentration of airborne formaldehyde exceeded either the TWA or the STEL and/or did not post at all entrances and access ways with signs as required.

Issued

2025-08-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-10-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $11823.00 · Current $11823.00

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1048(f)(1): Engineering controls and work practices were not instituted to reduce and maintain employee exposures to formaldehyde at or below the TWA and the STEL:  Foam Room Department: (a) On or about February 28, 2025, and at times prior, the employer did not implement engineering controls when employees were exposed to formaldehyde above the TWA and STEL during normal job activities in the foam room such as filling molds, slicing, operating the Oakes machines, rinsing, demolding, and transferring solution.   Washroom Department: (b) On or about February 28, 2025, and at times prior, the employer did not implement engineering controls when employees were exposed to formaldehyde above the TWA and STEL during normal job activities in the washroom such as washing scrap.

Issued

2025-08-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-10-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $9457.00 · Current $9457.00

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1048(h)(2)(ii)(A):Containers for contaminated clothing and equipment and storage areas did not have appropriate labels and signs containing the following information: DANGER FORMALDEHYDE CONTAMINATED (CLOTHING) EQUIPMENT AVOID INHALATION AND SKIN CONTACT  Employee locker room  (a) On or about February 28, 2025, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that containers for contaminated clothing were labeled with the appropriate signage to alert employees and/or contractors of the hazards of coming in contact with materials contaminated with formaldehyde.

Issued

2025-08-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-10-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $16550.00 · Current $16550.00

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1048(l)(1)(i): The employer shall institute medical surveillance programs for all employees exposed to formaldehyde at concentrations at or exceeding the action level or exceeding the STEL.  Foam Room Department: (a) The employer did not institute medical surveillance programs for employees exposed to formaldehyde at levels above the OSHA PEL of .75 ppm as an 9-hour TWA and/or 2 ppm over a 15-minute STEL programs as required.  Washroom:  (b) The employer did not institute medical surveillance programs for employees exposed to formaldehyde at levels above the OSHA PEL of .75 ppm as an 9-hour TWA and/or 2 ppm over a 15-minute STEL programs as required.

Issued

2025-08-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-10-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $16550.00 · Current $16550.00

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1048(m)(1)(iii): Employers shall include formaldehyde in the hazard communication program established to comply with the HCS (� 1910.1200). Employers shall ensure that each employee has access to labels on containers of formaldehyde and to safety data sheets, and is trained in accordance with the requirements of HCS and paragraph (n) of this section.  Foam Room Department and Washroom:  (a) On or about February 28, 2025, and at times prior,  the employer did not include formaldehyde in the hazard communication program to comply with the hazard communication standard (HCS) (� 1910.1200) and were trained in accordance with the requirements of HCS and paragraph (n) of 29 CFR 1910.1048. Employees exposed to formaldehyde above the TWA and STEL were not trained on the hazards relating to formaldehyde overexposure.

Issued

2025-08-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-09-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $11823.00 · Current $11823.00

Hazardous substances 1290

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1048(n)(3):The training program for all employees exposed to formaldehyde was not conducted in a manner which the employee was able to understand:  Foam Room Department and Washroom:  (a) On or about February 28, 2025, and at times prior, employees exposed to formaldehyde above the OSHA PEL were not given specific training on the hazards of the chemical in a language other than English, which is not the employees' primary language.

Issued

2025-08-28 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-10-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2364.00 · Current $2364.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1904.41(a)(1)(i): 29 CFR 1904.41(a)(1)(i):  The employer, with an establishment of 20-249 employees at any time during the previous calendar year, and in an industry listed in appendix A of 29 CFR 1904 Subpart E, did not electronically submit information from the OSHA Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses to OSHA, or OSHA's designee, no later than the date listed in 29 CFR 1904.41(c) of the year after the calendar year covered by the form.   Company-Wide:   On or about February 28, 2025, the employer failed during calendar year 2025, to electronically submit information from their 2024 OSHA form 300A or equivalent by March 2, 2025. The establishment employed 60 employees and is classified under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 339113 - Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing on the OSHA 300A log for the 2024 calendar year.