OSHA Inspection: THE SEGERDAHL CORP.

Issued

Nov 7, 2011

Abate by

Nov 15, 2011

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $3,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(6):     New audiograms were not obtained annually for each employee exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 dBA.    a) The Segerdahl Corp. did not ensure that all employees exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighed average (TWA) of 82.1 dBA received a new audiogram annually.  On October 14, 2011, personal noise monitoring was performed to verify employees performing the duty of a second pressman exceeded an 8-hour TWA of 82.1 dBA and were required to be included in the company's hearing conservation program.  There were three second pressman that did not receive an annual audiogram consistently between 2007 and 2009.    Note: The 8-hour TWA sound level of 85 dBA that triggers the requirement for a hearing conservation program (HCP) can be adjusted for work shifts less than or greater than 8 hours.  When making the adjustment, the following formula is used:  AL = 90 = 16.61 Log [50/12.5(hours)].  Affected employees were exposed to continuous noise levels over a 12-hour work shift.  Therefore, the TWA sound level that triggers the requirement for a HCP was adjusted or reduced for the affected employees to 82.1 dBA.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Nov 7, 2011

Abate by

Nov 15, 2011

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $3,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(2):     The training program was not repeated annually for each employee included in the hearing conservation program:    a) The Segerdahl Corp. did not ensure that all employees included in the company's hearing conservation program received annual training.  On October 14, 2011, personal noise monitoring was performed to verify the noise exposures of employees performing the duties of first pressman and second pressman exceeded an 8-hour TWA of 82.1 dBA and/or 85 dBA and that they were required to be included in the company's hearing conservation program.  There were two first pressman who did not receive noise training in 2010 and one second pressman who did not received noise training in 2009 or 2010.     Note: The 8-hour TWA sound level of 85 dBA that triggers the requirement for a hearing conservation program (HCP) can be adjusted for work shifts less than or greater than 8 hours.  When making the adjustment, the following formula is used:  AL = 90 = 16.61 Log [50/12.5(hours)].  Affected employees were exposed to continuous noise levels over a 12-hour work shift.  Therefore, the TWA sound level that triggers the requirement for a HCP was adjusted or reduced for the affected employees to 82.1 dBA.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.