OSHA Inspection: RAKHRA MUSHROOM FARM CORPORATION

Issued

Oct 18, 2002

Abate by

Oct 24, 2002

Penalty

Initial $975 · Current $200 Reduced

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 noise in excess of 85 dBA which may result in
permanent
hearing loss:
On September 12, 2002 an employee was exposed to noise levels at 87.92 dBA
as an 8 hour
TWA, in excess of the Action Level of 85 dBA.  Exposure to excessive noise
levels may
cause standard threshold shift and result in permanent hearing loss.
On September 12, 2002 an employee was exposed to noise levels at 89.80 dBA
as an 8 hour
TWA, in excess of the Action Level of 85 dBA.  Exposure to excessive noise
levels may
cause standard threshold shift and result in permanent hearing loss.
On September 12, 2002 an employee was exposed to noise levels at 87.91 dBA
as
an 8 hour
TWA, in excess of the Action Level of 85 dBA.  Exposure to excessive noise
levels may
cause standard threshold shift and result in permanent hearing loss.
On September 12, 2002 an employee was exposed to noise levels at 90.77 dBA
as an 8 hour
TWA, in excess of the Action Level of 85 dBA.  Exposure to excessive noise
levels may
cause standard threshold shift and result in permanent hearing loss.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this
hazardous condition would be to develop a continuing, effective hearing
conservation
program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (n) when employee noise
exposures
equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of
85 dBA:
Abatement Verification:  Abatement certification and documentation is
required
for this
item (see enclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter").

Issued

Oct 18, 2002

Abate by

Oct 24, 2002

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 noise in excess of 85 dBA which may result in
permanent
hearing loss:
a) On or about September 12, 2002, and at times prior to, employees whose
noise exposure
exceeded an 8 hour time weighted average of 85 dBA were not included in an
audiometric
testing program.  An 8 hour time weighted average of 85 dBA is equivalent
to a noise dose
of 50and noise monitoring conducted on September 12, 2002, found
employees' noise
dose to be 74.9, 97.3, 74.8, & 111.3respectively.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this
hazardous condition would be to have audiometric testing on all affected
employees:
Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see
enclosed "Sample
Abatement-Certification Letter").
Abatement Note:  An audiometric testing program must include a baseline
audiogram
within 6 months of the employee's first exposure, and an annual audiogram,
thereafter,
in order to compare results from year to year.

Issued

Oct 18, 2002

Abate by

Oct 24, 2002