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

29 CFR 1910.120(q)(3)(iv): Employees engaged in emergency response and exposed to hazardous substances presenting an inhalation hazard or potential inhalation hazard, did not wear positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus until such time that the individual in charge of the incident command system determined through the use of air monitoring that a decreased level of respiratory protection would not result in hazardous exposures to employees: (a) On or about October 23, 2023, the employer did not ensure that employees engaged in emergency response and potentially exposed to hazardous substances were wearing positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatuses until such time that the individual in charge of the incident command system determined through air monitoring that a decreased level of respiratory protection would not result in hazardous exposures to employees. Employees who remained in the area observing the fire fighting and using fire extinguishers on the fire within the dust collector were exposed to potential inhalation hazards from the discharge of smoke and toxic gases and hazardous metal smoke or fumes from the hazardous material burning at the facility.