Volvo Aero Connecticut has been cited by OSHA for 17 alleged serious violations of workplace safety standards at its Newington manufacturing plant. The airplane engine parts manufacturer faces a total of $83,400 in proposed fines for a cross section of hazards identified during a comprehensive OSHA inspection.

“Our inspection found employees exposed to a range of hazards that could result in potentially serious or fatal injuries if not promptly and effectively corrected,” said Paul Mangiafico, OSHA’s area director in Hartford. “Workers at this plant face the risks of falls, fires, explosions, electrocution, struck-by injuries, chemical exposure and being caught in unguarded operating machinery. For the safety and health of its workers, the company must address these issues so that they do not occur again.”

Specific violations cited by OSHA included workers being hoisted on the load hook of an overhead crane; an improperly designed combustible dust collection system; a lack of personal protective equipment; uncovered containers of flammable liquids; improper disposal of combustible rags; failure to conduct air monitoring to determine employees’ exposure to hexavalent chromium; unguarded milling machines, belts, pulleys and grinders; and failure to re-evaluate workers’ ability to safely operate fork trucks and provide operators with refresher training.

In addition, the company was cited for several electrical safety violations. These included electrical equipment unapproved for a Class II (combustible dust) location, flexible cords used in lieu of permanent wiring, defective electrical equipment, a lack of an electrical safety-related work practices program and failure to provide such training to maintenance employees.

MACON, Ga. — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is proposing $300,400 in penalties against Aerospace/Defense Coatings of Georgia Inc. in Macon for 19 health violations.

OSHA began its inspection in May after receiving a complaint concerning personal protective equipment and the handling, storing and disposing of chemicals. Inspections were conducted at all three Aerospace/Defense Coatings of Georgia plants and followed up on violations from 2005 and 2008.

The company is being cited with four alleged willful violations with a proposed penalty of $224,000. The violations are associated with respirator protection, chromium (VI) overexposure, personal protective equipment and failing to perform periodic monitoring of chromium (VI) exposure. The agency defines a willful violation as one committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law’s requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.

The citations also include eight alleged repeat violations with a proposed penalty of $50,400. The violations are related to hazardous waste, emergency response, written programs, personal protective equipment for acids, failing to provide employee information and training, and respirator training and storage. A repeat violation is issued when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years.

Also, there are seven alleged serious violations with a proposed penalty of $26,000. The violations include failing to train employees to respond to hazardous waste emergencies, failing to post the results of chromium (VI) levels that were above the permissible exposure limit in an accessible location, failing to establish a regulated area where employees’ exposure to airborne concentrations was in excess of the permissible exposure limit, failing to provide a change area to prevent cross-contamination, failing to ensure surfaces contaminated with chemicals were cleaned, failing to institute a medical surveillance program, and not providing information and training for employees exposed to chromium (VI). A serious citation is issued when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

“The employer had ample information alerting him to the hazards posed by hexavalent chromium, yet allowed his employees to continue to be exposed,” said Bill Fulcher, director of OSHA’s Atlanta-East Area Office. “OSHA will not tolerate this type of inaction.”

If your company primarily engages in the manufacturing, fabricating, or forging of metal products, you may be subject to additional EPA requirements that go into effect for existing facilities on July 25, 2011.  Companies should examine their processes if they use or process metal materials which contain cadmium, chromium, lead, or nickel equal to or in excess of 0.1% by weight of the metal.  Metal materials containing manganese greater than or equal to 1.0% by weight of the metal are also subject to the requirements. 

If you use materials that contain or have the potential to emit any of the above substances, you may be subject to the requirements.  These materials are referred to in the standard as Metal Fabrication (or Finishing) Hazardous Air Pollutants (MFHAP). The manufacturer’s or supplier’s Material Safety Data Sheets should be used to determine the formulation. 

The standard applies to activities such as dry abrasive blasting, dry grinding and polishing, machining, and welding.  Spray painting using paints that contain the above mentioned metals is also subject to this standard.  Each of these activities has specific compliance components.  Dry abrasive blasting operations will have to take steps to control and capture dust.  Operating machining, dry grinding, and dry polishing will require steps to minimize dust.  Spray painting requirements for capturing contaminants and maintaining equipment are detailed.

Operations which perform welding may be the most affected.  Companies who use 2000 pounds or more of welding rod containing one or more MFHAP calculated on a twelve month basis are subject to the standard.  Requirements include implementing one or more management practices to minimize emissions of MFHAP, following manufacturer’s instructions, and monitoring and reporting requirements.  Some of these requirements include an initial notification, annual certification, and compliance reports.  Companies are subject to additional requirements if unacceptable levels of emissions are discovered. 

These requirements do not apply to facility maintenance, tool / equipment repair operations, or quality control operations. 

Click on the link for the full version of the 40 CFR Part 63 Subpart XXXXXX standard to find out additional details.

OSHA has cited Pride Plating Inc. with alleged willful, repeat and serious violations following an inspection at the company’s facility in Grove. Proposed penalties total $209,000.

“Employees should not be exposed to safety and health hazards,” said David Bates, OSHA’s area director in Oklahoma City, Okla. “In this case, the significant penalty of $209,000 demonstrates OSHA’s commitment to eliminating safety and health hazards in the workplace.”

OSHA’s Oklahoma City Area Office began its investigation March 4 at the company’s facility at 2900 East Highway 10. A willful violation citation was issued for failure to perform periodic monitoring after initial monitoring indicated workers were exposed to chromium VI in excess of OSHA’s permissible exposure limit.

A citation for 10 repeat violations was issued for failure to provide safe walking surfaces, provide personal protective equipment for workers exposed to chromium, prevent workers from being overexposed to chromium VI, and properly train workers who have been exposed to chromium, caustics and corrosives used in the facility.

A serious citation noting three violations was issued for failure to provide adequate washing facilities for workers exposed to chromium VI, and failure to prohibit tobacco products in chromium-regulated areas. A serious violation means there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

OSHA also issued a notice of failure-to-abate citation to Pride Plating relating to three violations: the company’s failure to implement a respiratory program, institute a medical surveillance program for workers overexposed to chromium VI, and develop and implement a hazard communication program for workers exposed to caustics and corrosives. A failure-to-abate citation is issued when an employer has not corrected a violation for which OSHA previously issued a citation and the abatement date has passed.

Pride Plating employs about 90 workers in Grove, Oklahoma.

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OSHA has issued a new compliance directive for occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)). The directive, OSHA Instruction CPL 02-02-074, Inspection Procedures for the Chromium (VI) Standards, was effective January 24, 2008. The Cr(VI) standards were originally published in the Feb. 28, 2006 Federal Register.

This new directive provides guidance for enforcement of the final rule on hexavalent chromium standards.  OSHA anticipates these efforts will reduce the risks of exposure to Cr(VI), thereby improving the safety and health of employees affected by this hazard.

The standards became effective on May 30, 2006. Employers with 20 or more employees were given six months from the effective date to comply with most of the provisions. Employers with less than 20 employees were allowed 12 months from the effective date to come into compliance with most of the provisions. All employers were given four years from the effective date to install feasible engineering controls.

The Cr(VI) standards are applicable to general industry, construction, and shipyards. Highlights of the new Cr(VI) directive include procedures for reviewing an employer’s air sampling records to determine exposure levels; guidance on how employers can implement effective engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain exposure below approved permissible exposure limits; requirements for employers to provide hygiene areas to minimize employees’ exposure to Cr(VI); guidelines requiring employers to maintain exposure and medical surveillance records; and a requirement that CSHOs evaluate portland cement wherever it is being used.

The standards lower the permissible exposure limit for hexavalent chromium to 5 micrograms of Cr(VI) per cubic meter of air as an 8-hour time-weighted average. Hexavalent chromium compounds are regularly used in the chemical industry in pigments, metal plating, and chemical synthesis. Significant health effects associated with exposure to Cr(VI) are lung cancer, nasal septum ulcerations and perforations, skin ulcerations, and allergic and irritant contact dermatitis.

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