Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 001D Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(2)(i): All respirators shall be stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals, and they shall be packed or stored to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve. The employer does not protect each employee by providing respirator storage to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, damaging chemicals and are packed or stored to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve. a) This most recently occurred on March 21, 2013, in the painting area, the employer did not ensure the respirators used are cleaned and stored properly, thereby exposing employees to the hazards associated with dirty and/or contaminated respirators. To abate this hazard in the future the employer must ensure respirators are stored to protect them from contamination and packed or stored to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve. This employer has been cited for this practice that included: Hoist Liftruck Mfg, Inc., was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.134(h) which was contained in OSHA inspection number 424535, citation 1, item 5, issued on September 28, 2012, and became final order on about October 29, 2012, with respect to a workplace located at 6499 W. 65th Street, Bedford Park. Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit documents describing the steps it is taking to ensure compliance, including an explanation of how storage of respirators will ensure the prevention of contamination and deformation.