OSHA Inspection: RANCH CREEK LTD

Issued

Nov 9, 2011

Abate by

Dec 23, 2011

Penalty

Initial $3,060 · Current $1,836 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1):  When information indicates that any employee's exposure may equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program.     (a)	Ranch Creek Ltd., 441 Highway 125, Granby, CO 80446: On and before July 26, 2011 the employer did not develop and implement a noise monitoring program.     Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Nov 9, 2011

Abate by

Dec 9, 2011

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(6): At least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram, the employer did not obtain a new audiogram for each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.    (a)	Ranch Creek Ltd., 441 Highway 125, Granby, CO 80446: On and before July 26, 2011, the employer did not provide all employees with annual audiograms.     Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Nov 9, 2011

Abate by

Mar 15, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $1,440 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employee exposure to a substance listed in Table Z-1 exceeded the 8 hour Time Weighted Average for that substance:    (a)	Ranch Creek Ltd., 441 Highway 125, Granby, CO 80446: On  July 26, 2011, Ranch Creek Ltd. did not ensure that employee exposure to a substance listed in Table Z-1 did not exceed the 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) for that substance.  One employee was removing and stacking dowels as they came out of the dowel machine. This process generated Particles Not Otherwise Classified (total dust).  On July 26, 2011 one employee was exposed to total dust at a concentration greater than the 8 hour TWA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 15.00 mg/m3.  The employee was exposed to respirable dust at a concentration of 29.4 mg/m3 as an 8 hour TWA.  This is 1.96 times the PEL.  Air monitoring was conducted for 348 Minutes.    Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Nov 9, 2011

Abate by

Mar 15, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits described in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):    (a)	Ranch Creek Ltd., 441 Highway 125, Granby, CO 80446: On  July 26, 2011, Ranch Creek Ltd. did not ensure that employee exposure to a substance listed in Table Z-1 did not exceed the 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) for that substance.  One employee was removing and stacking dowels as they came out of the dowel machine. This process generated Particles Not Otherwise Classified (total dust).  On July 26, 2011 one employee was exposed to total dust at a concentration greater than the 8 hour TWA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 15.00 mg/m3.  The employee was exposed to respirable dust at a concentration of 29.4 mg/m3 as an 8 hour TWA.  This is 1.96 times the PEL.  Air monitoring was conducted for 348 Minutes.    Abatement Note:  Feasible engineering controls include, but are not limited to:    1)	Local exhaust ventilation; and    2)	Installing a conveyor system to move the final product away from the machine so the employee can retrieve it at a location farther away from the machine.      STEP 1:	Effective respiratory protection shall be provided and used by exposed employees as an interim protective measure until feasible engineering and/or administrative controls can be implemented or whenever such controls fail to reduce employee exposure to within exposure limits.     	STEP 1 ABATEMENT (30 DAYS):  December 9, 2011                      STEP 2:	Submit to the Area Director a written detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee exposures to silica. The plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which should be consistent with the dates required by this citation:    (a)	Evaluation of the extent and location of the hazard source    (b)	Evaluation of control measure options    (c)	Selection of optimum control measures    (d)	Determination of control measure design    (e)	Ordering and delivery of equipment    (f)	Installation of control measures    (g)	Training of employees in proper operation and maintenance of newly implemented control measures    (h)	Assurance of the effective performance of control measures    All proposed control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use but a competent Industrial Hygienist or other technically qualified person. Thirty (30) day progress reports are required during the abatement period. The progress report must identify the action taken to achieve abatement and the date the action was taken.                      STEP 2 ABATEMENT DATE (60 DAYS): January 9, 2012    Step 3:	Abatement will be completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls and upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.     	STEP 3 ABATEMENT DATE (90 DAYS): February 7, 2012    Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Nov 9, 2011

Abate by

Jan 16, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1):  A written respiratory protection program with worksite specific procedures, as specified in subparagraphs (c)(1)(i) through (ix) of this section, was not established and implemented where respirator(s) were necessary to protect the health of the employee:    (a)	Ranch Creek Ltd., 441 Highway 125, Granby, CO 80446: On and before July 26, 2011, the employer did not ensure that a written respiratory protection program was established and implemented in the workplace when the use of respirators was required during sawmill operations.  Employees were wearing Moldex N95 respirators    Abatement Note:  The written program shall include at least the following:    (1)	Procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace;    (2)	Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators;    (3)	Fit testing procedures for tight fitting respirators;    (4)	Procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations;    (5)	Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfection, storing, inspection., repairing, discarding, and otherwise maintaining respirators;    (6)	Procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow of breathing air for atmosphere-supplying respirators;    (7)	Training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situation;    (8)	Training of employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and their maintenance; and    (9)	Procedure for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program    Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Nov 9, 2011

Abate by

Dec 9, 2011

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(ii): The employer did not select a NIOSH-certified respirator. The respirator shall be used in compliance with the conditions of its certification.    (a)	Ranch Creek Ltd., 441 Highway 125, Granby, CO 80446: On and before July 26, 2011, the employer provided SAS Model 2985 to employees and this respirator is not NIOSH approved.     Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Nov 9, 2011

Abate by

Jan 16, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1):  The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employees ability to use a respirator, before the employees were fit tested or required to us a respirator in the workplace:    (a)	Ranch Creek Ltd., 441 Highway 125, Granby, CO 80446: On and before July 26, 2011, the employer did not ensure that employees who are required to wear respirators had received medical evaluations. Employees who are required to wear respirators have not received medical evaluations.     Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (See enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Nov 9, 2011

Abate by

Jan 17, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2):  The employer did not ensure that employees using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator was fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) is used, or at least annually:     (a)	Ranch Creek Ltd., 441 Highway 125, Granby, CO 80446: On and before July 26, 2011, the employer did not ensure that employees who are required to wear respirators had received fit tests.  Improper respirator fit potentially exposes employees to respiratory hazards.     Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (See enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Nov 9, 2011

Abate by

Jan 17, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1):  The employer did not provide training prior to requiring employees to use respirators in the workplace:    (a)	Ranch Creek Ltd., 441 Highway 125, Granby, CO 80446: the employer did not provide respirator training prior to requiring the use of air purifying respirators while conducting sawmill operations.    Note:	The employee shall ensure that each employee can demonstrate knowledge of at least the following:     (1)	Why the respirator is necessary and how improper fit, usage, or maintenance can compromise the protective effect of the respirator;    (2)	What the limitations and capabilities of the respirator are;    (3)	How to use the respirator effectively in emergency situations, including situation in which the respirator malfunctions;    (4)	How to inspect, put on and remove, use, and check the seals of the respirator;    (5)	What the procedures are for maintenance and storage of the respirator;    (6)	How to recognize medical signs and symptoms that may limit or prevent the effective use of respirators; and    (7)	The general requirements of this section    Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").