OSHA Inspection: KOHLER CO.

Issued

Mar 21, 2012

Abate by

Jun 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(c):     Employees were exposed to respirable crystalline quartz silica in excess of the 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) limits as listed in Table Z-3:    The following employees were exposed to respirable crystalline quartz silica at levels in excess of the permissible exposure limit PEL:    a)  An employee operating in Sink Grinder Booth #1100 on 11/17/2011, who was exposed to airborne respirable dust containing 4.8% crystalline silica at levels of 3.3 mg/m3 as an 8-hour TWA, approximately 2.2 times the PEL of 1.471 mg/m3.    b)  An employee operating in Sink Grinder Booth #1300 on 02/14/2012, who was exposed to airborne respirable dust containing 4.2% crystalline silica at levels of 3.2 mg/m3 as an 8-hour TWA, approximately 2.0 times the PEL of 1.613 mg/m3.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED.

Issued

Mar 21, 2012

Abate by

Jun 19, 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 prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):    On 02/14/2012, feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented in order to reduce Sink Grind employees' exposures to concentrations of respirable crystalline silica to limits prescribed in 1910.1000(c) Table Z-3.    Applicable administrative or engineering controls may include, but are not limited to the following:    a)  Increase the average face capture velocity without regard of the cooling fan located at the back of the Sink Grind work stations.    b)  Redesign the Sink Grind work stations to be exhausted partial enclosures with an average face air velocity of not less than 200 feet per min.    c)  Install Supply Air Island (SAI) or Supply Air Plenum (SAP) in addition to local exhaust ventilation booths for Sink Grind work stations. For SAI or SAP see guidance in Section 3.5 of AFS Vent Manual (Managing the Foundry Indoor Air Environment).     ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED.

Issued

Mar 21, 2012

Abate by

Jun 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(c)(1):     Employee(s) were exposed to lead at concentrations greater than fifty micrograms per cubic meter of air averaged over an eight-hour period:    The following employees were exposed to lead at concentrations greater than fifty micrograms per cubic meter (50 ug/m3) of air averaged over an eight-hour period:    a)  On 11/09/2011, an employee operating the Herman Auto Pour on the Herman Auto Pour deck, who was exposed to airborne lead at levels of 350 ug/m3 as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) which is approximately 7.0 time the permissible exposure limit (PEL.)    b)  On 11/09/2011, an employee operating the Melt Furnace on the Melt deck, who was exposed to airborne lead at levels of 84 ug/m3 as an 8-hour TWA which is approximately 1.7 time the PEL.    c)  On 11/09/2011, an employee operating the Iron Hauler for the Herman line, who was exposed to airborne lead at levels of 89 ug/m3 as an 8-hour TWA which is approximately 1.8 time the PEL.    d)  On 02/14/2012, an employee operating the Channel Furnace in the Melt area, who was exposed to airborne lead at levels of 57 ug/m3 as an 8-hour TWA which is approximately 1.1 time the PEL.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED.

Issued

Mar 21, 2012

Abate by

Jun 19, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1025(e)(1)(i):    Engineering and work practice controls (including administrative controls) were not implemented to reduce and maintain employee exposure to lead in accordance with 1910.1025(c)(1):    On 11/09/2011, the employer did not use engineering and/or work practice controls to reduce the exposures of employees working on the Herman Auto Pour, Melt deck, Herman Iron Hauler and Channel Furnace areas, who were exposed to lead above the permissible exposure limit for more than 30 days per year.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED.