OSHA Inspection: GRANT WOOD SPECIALTIES

Issued

Mar 25, 1988

Abate by

Jan 15, 1989

Penalty

Initial $640 · Current $320 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9210

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were
free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death
or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to
the hazard of oak dust exposure in excess of one mg/m3 (TWA) as set
forth in the Threshold Limit Values, American Conference of Governmental
Industrial Hygienist 1987-1988:
a) Wood Shop - Shaper operator shaping oak was exposed to hardwood
dust concentrations of 19.6 mg/m3 (TWA), which is 19.6 times the
recommended ACGIH exposure limit of 1.0 mg/m3 (TWA), as sampled on
January 15, 1988.
b) Wood Shop - Shaper operator using shaper to make oak molding
was exposed to hardwood dust concentrations of 14.7 mg/m3 (TWA),
which is 14.7 times the recommended ACGIH exposure limit of 1.0
mg/m3 (TWA), as sampled on January 15, 1988.
c) Wood Shop - Sander operating sanding machine to sand oak door
was exposed to hardwood dust concentrations of 5.4 mg/m3 (TWA),
which is 5.4 times the ACGIH recommended exposure limit of 1.0 mg/m3
(TWA), as sampled on January 15, 1988.
Chronic exposure to hardwood dust may cause asthma, pulmonary fibrosis
and nasal carcinomas as referenced by ACGIH.
Feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct this hazard are:
1) Provide respiratory protection adequate to reduce personal exposure
to below 1.0 mg/m3 (TWA).
2) Relocate filter bags for the east ventilation system to the outside
of the building.
3) Restrict dust blow down operations to booths with back draft exhaust
ventilation or install control vacuum system.
4) Increase general room ventilation to reduce hardwood dust
concentrations to less than 1.0 mg/m3.
5) Provide adequate local exhaust ventilation to each woodworking
machine to control hardwood dust emissions at their source.

Issued

Mar 25, 1988

Abate by

Apr 30, 1988

Issued

Mar 25, 1988

Abate by

Apr 30, 1988

Issued

Mar 25, 1988

Abate by

Apr 30, 1988

Issued

Mar 25, 1988

Abate by

Apr 1, 1988

Issued

Mar 25, 1988

Abate by

Apr 30, 1988

Issued

Mar 25, 1988

Abate by

Apr 30, 1988