OSHA Inspection: 24-7 DRYWALL AND REMODELING

Issued

Nov 15, 2011

Abate by

Nov 16, 2011

Penalty

Initial $2,040 · Current $1,020 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1101(f)(2)(i):  The employer with a work operation covered by the asbestos standard did not ensure that a "competent person" conducted an exposure assessment immediately before or at the initiation of the operation to ascertain expected exposures during that operation:    a)  On or about August 18, 2011, and at times prior, employees were exposed to unknown quantities of airborne asbestos fibers while they removed Class I asbestos containing materials and/or worked around such removal because the employer did not conduct an initial exposure assessment.

Issued

Nov 15, 2011

Abate by

Nov 16, 2011

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1101(e)(1):  All Class I, II, and III asbestos work was not conducted within regulated areas:    a)  On or about August 18, 2011, and at times prior, employees were exposed to asbestos fibers while working near Class I asbestos removal operations without being separated by a demarcated regulated area.

Issued

Nov 15, 2011

Abate by

Nov 16, 2011

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1101(g)(4)(ii)[A]:  Critical barriers were not placed over all the openings to the regulated area:      a)  On or about August 18, 2011, employees were exposed to asbestos because the employer failed to contain the Class I asbestos removal activities which included scraping wall texturing (5% asbestos) from the wall.  Exposed employees included 24-7 Drywall & Remodeling as well as employees from Riverstone Residential (building occupants).

Issued

Nov 15, 2011

Abate by

Nov 16, 2011

Penalty

Initial $2,040 · Current $1,020 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1101(o)(1):  The employer did not designate a competent person on construction worksites, having the qualifications and authorities for ensuring worker safety and health required by Subpart C, General Safety and Health Provisions for Construction (29 CFR 1926.20 through 1926.32):    a)  On or about August 18, 2011, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected through the supervision of a competent person knowledgeable in the hazards and control methodologies associated with asbestos work.  Employees were exposed to asbestos fibers while they scraped asbestos wall texturing or worked in the area around the scraped material or other asbestos containing materials.

Issued

Nov 15, 2011

Abate by

Nov 16, 2011

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1101(k)(9)(i):  The employer did not institute a training program for all employees who are likely to be exposed in excess of a PEL and for all employees who perform Class I through Class IV asbestos operations, and did not ensure their participation in the program:    a)  On or about August 18, 2011, and at times prior, the employer did not provide their employees with adequate training for the Class I and Class IV asbestos operations that they conducted.

Issued

Nov 15, 2011

Abate by

Jan 30, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,530 · Current $765 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1):  A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:      a)  On or about August 18, 2011, and at times prior, the employer did not establish a written respiratory protection program and provide effective training to employees who used respirators to protect themselves from a variety of chemicals including paints, solvents and asbestos.  Employees used elastomeric half-face respirators without being provided medical evaluations and basic training which ensured that the use of the respirators themselves did not present a health hazard to the employees.  Further, respirator selection was not based on an assessment of the air contaminants.