Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 004A Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): The employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures. The program shall be updated as necessary to reflect those changes in workplace conditions that affect respirator use. The employer shall include in the program the following provisions of this section, as applicable: 1) Procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace; 2) Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators; 3) Fit-testing for tight-fitting respirators; 4) Procedures for proper use of respirators in routine work or likely emergencies; 5) Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, discarding, and otherwise maintaining respirators; 6) Procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow of breathing air for atmosphere-supplying respirators; 7) Training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations; 8) Training of employees in the proper use of respirators including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and their maintenance; and 9) Procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program. On or about January 30, 2018, the employer did not establish a respiratory protection program for employees required to wear respirators while spray painting, sand blasting and welding, exposing employees to inhalation hazards. On or about January 30, 2018, the employer did not evaluate the respiratory hazards for employee(s) required to wear respirators while spray painting, sand blasting and welding, exposing employees to inhalation hazards. On or about January 30, 2018, the employer did not provide medical evaluations to determine the employee's ability to use respirators. Employees use half face and full face cartridge respirators when sweeping out the inside of the tanks and spraying the outside of the tanks, exposing employees to inhalation hazards. On or about January 30, 2018, fit testing was not provided to employees required to wear 3M full face and half face cartridge tight fitting respirators. Employees paint and sweep sand out of the tanks, exposing employees to inhalation hazards. On or about January 30, 2018, the employees working in paint spray and sandblasting areas were using respirators that had dust and dirt accumulation on the inside of the respirators. Respirators were placed on the shelf and were not cleaned, disinfected before use, and were being shared by employees, exposing employees to respiratory hazards. On or about March 26, 2018, employees used a supplied air respirator system that had sorbent filters that were not maintained or replaced in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, exposing employees to respiratory hazards. On or about March 23, 2018, employees utilized two compressors to supply breathing air to respirators. Neither of the compressors had a tag indicating the most recent filter change date or the person authorized to perform the change, exposing employees to respiratory hazards. On or about March 23, 2018, employees utilized half face, full face, and supplied air respirators in the paint and media blasting area. They were not trained on the care, use, and limitations of the respirators, exposing employees to respiratory hazards.