OSHA Case Study: Bubba Materials Handling Equipment, Inc.

Bubba Materials Handling Equipment, Inc., has many behavior-based safety issues and concerns to address. Within this report, the following areas will be addressed in order to bring them into compliance with OSHA standards: heavy transport equipment, cranes, use of paints and solvents, and use of industrial machinery.

15 Highest Priority Standards for Bubba Materials Handling Equipment, Inc. 

Code Number and Description of Hazard

All information for this section is cited from the United States Department of Labor: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA, n. d.b).

Special Provisions for Air Contaminants, Lead, 1910.19(g). Possible lead exposure due to welding. There might also be lead in the paint in the building because it was built in 1958.

Special Provisions for Air Contaminants, Cadmium, 1910.19(k). Cadmium exposure possible because “metal machining, welding, and painting are operations associated with cadmium exposure” (OSHA, n. d.a).

Aisles and Passageways, 1910.22(b)(1). Passageways and loading docks for the operation of forklifts must be kept clear.

Occupational Noise Exposure, 1910.95. Noise decibel caused by fabrication equipment.

Hazardous Materials, 1910 Subpart H. Hazardous materials used in manufacturing, such as lead soldering, caustic substances in paints and varnishes.

Spray Booth, 1910.107(a)(3). The company has a delineated area to spray paints that will contain caustic vapors and/or other caustic hazards. 

Industrial Ventilation, 1910.94. The booth is well ventilated to control inhalation of caustic substances.

Personal Protective Equipment, 1910 Subpart I. Head, eye, and respiratory, and other protective devices recommended for use around heavy industrial machinery and equipment (forklifts, manufacturing and finishing machinery).

Permit-Required Confined Spaces, 1910.146. Painting spray booths fall under this requirement.

Safety Color Code for Marking Physical Hazards, 1910.144. Delineation for hazardous areas in the manufacturing area is needed.

Specification for Accident Prevention Signs and Tags, 1910.145. 

Medical and First Aid, 1910 Subpart K. Needed because of heavy industrial vehicles, machinery, caustic materials, sparks from metal manufacturing, and flames for welding and soldering.

Fire Protection, 1910 Subpart L. Standard for any industry, but needed specifically for welding and sparks coming from the refining of raw metals.

Crawler Locomotive and Truck Cranes, 1910.180. Overhead crane used to load finished products.

Welding, Cutting, and Brazing, 1910 Subpart Q. OSHA requirements must be followed for welding segment of Bubba Materials operations.

Four Required Written Programs for Bubba Materials Handling Equipment, Inc.

Bubba Materials needs many of the written programs, according to OSHA. Here are four examples of required written programs Bubba Materials needs:

Emergency Action Plan, 1910.38(a) & (b)(2)(i) through (iii) & 1910.120(q)

Because of Bubba Materials’ manufacturing procedures, fire and chemical safety concerns must be addressed. Because the firm is above ten employees, written crisis response, preventative, and evacuation programs must be written rather than oral.

Respirator Protection Plan, 1910.134

Companies must have written plans for airborne caustic materials. The paint spraying qualifies Bubba Materials for compliance with this written protocol.

Confined Space Entry Procedure, 1910.146

The painting area is confined space that needs certification and has employees entering the area, so a written manual is required for this area of Bubba Materials.

Personal Protective Equipment Written Hazards Assessment, 1910 Subpart I

A hazard assessment survey must be conducted to be compliant with this section. Since Bubba Materials must comply in the head, face, hand, and foot protection, a survey must be incorporated to comply with standards.

Five Standards that Require Training in Bubba Materials Handling Equipment, Inc.

Hazardous conditions exist in Bubba Materials. Training requirements arise from these hazardous conditions to protect the safety of the employees and prevent injury and/or death, according to OSHA (1998). The following conditions exist in Bubba Materials, and the company must have a formal training program to ensure employee safety.

Fire Safety and Emergency Situation Procedures – same reasons as stated for written training.

Hearing Protection – hearing protection for loud machinery.

Personal Protective Equipment – for loading equipment and industrial machines

Welding, Cutting, and Brazing – welding procedures necessary to follow to ensure employee safety, required safety equipment.

Hazardous Materials – proper protective equipment, appropriate training in painting area, proper maintenance of ventilation materials.

References

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (n. d.a). Cadmium. United States Department of Labor. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/cadmium/

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (n. d.b). Occupational safety and health standards, standard 1910. United States Department of Labor. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owastand.display_standard_group?p_toc_level=1&p_part_number=1910

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (1998). Training requirements in  OSHA standards and training guidelines. United States Department of Labor. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha2254.pdf