Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 016D Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.1052(g)(1): For employees who use respirators required by 29 CFR 1910.1052, the employer did not provide each employee an appropriate respirator that complied with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.1052(g): a) Facility The employer did not provide appropriate respirators to employees using paint stripper containing methylene chloride at 75-80%. The employees were over-exposed to methylene chloride while using half mask negative pressure respirators equipped with organic vapor cartridges. Employees were required to be provided with and use atmosphere-supplying respirators such as airline or self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) during such work operations. Employees using paint stripper containing 75-80% methylene chloride were exposed to methylene chloride at 40.7 parts per million (ppm) and 178.1 parts per million as an 8 hour time weighted average (TWA) concentration which were 1.6 and 7.1 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 25 ppm. Employees were sampled for 381 and 391 minutes respectively with zero exposures assumed for 99 minutes and 89 minutes that were not sampled. An employee using paint stripper containing 75-80% methylene chloride was exposed to methylene chloride at 305.1 parts per million (ppm) as a 15 minute short term exposure concentration which was 2.4 times the short term exposure limit (STEL) of 125 ppm. Violation occurred on or about 12/3/2018.