OSHA Inspection: NATIONAL GRANITE LUXURIES

Issued

Dec 29, 2011

Abate by

Nov 1, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,550 · Current $1,530 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program, as described in paragraphs (c) through (o) of this section, whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (slow response) or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent:    An employee working in the cutting area was exposed to continuous noise at 66.5% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) during the 440 minute sampling period on 11/14/2011; exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 40 minutes not sampled.       Abatement Steps:    1. Effective hearing protection shall be provided and used by all exposed employees as an interim protection measure and when administrative or engineering controls fail to reduce sound levels within the levels of table G-16.  In addition, an effective hearing conservation program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.95(c) thru (n) shall be maintained.  Abatement must be completed (5 Working Days)      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 exposure to noise as referenced in this citation.  This plan shall include at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the dates required by this citation.      a)	Evaluation of engineering control options.  b)	Selection of optimum control method and completion of design.  c)	Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures.  d)	Testing and acceptance or modifications/redesign of controls.    All proposed control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use by a competent Industrial Hygienist or other technically qualified person.  Abatement must be completed (15 working days)    3. Abatement should have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.  Abatement must be completed (30 working days)

Issued

Dec 29, 2011

Abate by

Nov 1, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,550 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): The employer did not ensure that a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures was established and implemented to include the provisions of (i)-(ix), as applicable;    On or about November 14, 2011, the fabricator working in the granite shop was exposed to silica dust at 5.076 mg/M3 which is appoximately 3.36 times the permissable exposure limit of 1.5 mg/M3; exposure calculations included a zero increment for 40 minutes not sampled. At this time employees are being exposed to levels above the PEL and the employer shall require mandatory use of a respirator until feasible engineering controls can be put in place.

Issued

Dec 29, 2011

Abate by

Jan 6, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,550 · Current $1,530 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(i): Electrical cords and cables were not approved or conditions of use and location:    On or about November 3, 2011 the employer provided electrical cords that were not suitable for the wet conditions in the cutting area. A fan had an electrical cord that had exposed wires and the cord was covered in electrical tape from damage.

Issued

Dec 29, 2011

Abate by

Nov 1, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,570 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(c): An employee was exposed to (silica dust) in excess of the 8-hour time weighted average limits of (1.5 mg/M3) listed in Table Z-3:    On or about November 14, 2011, the fabricator working in the granite shop was exposed to silica dust at 5.076 mg/M3 which is approximately 3.36 times the permissible exposure limit of 1.5 mg/M3; exposure calculations included a zero increment for 40 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Dec 29, 2011

Abate by

Feb 13, 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):    For the employee including, but not limited to, the employee whose exposure is described in Citation 1, Item 4(a).   General methods of control include, but are notlimited to:    1. Install a dust control appratus on portable grinder.    2. Use an exhaust ventilation system to capture silica dust.     Abatement Steps     STEP 1:  Effective respirators shall be provided and used by all employee(s) as an interim measure.  Abatement must be completed by (5 working days).      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 as referenced in this citation.  This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must 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 method(s).     d)  Determination of control measure design.     e)  Ordering and delivery of equipment and material(s).     f)  Installation of control measures.     g)  Training of employees in proper operation and maintenance of newly-implemented control measures.     h)  Assurance of effective performance of control measures.     All proposed control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use by a technically qualified person.  Abatement must be completed by (15 working days).     STEP 3:  Correction should have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls and their effectiveness in achieving compliance.  Abatement must be completed by (30 working days).

Issued

Dec 29, 2011

Abate by

Jan 6, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(e)(2): Portable extinguishers or hose used in lieu thereof under paragraph (d)(3) of this section shall be visually inspected monthly:    On or about November 3, 2011 the employer did not do visual monthly checks on the ABC fire extinguishers.

Issued

Dec 29, 2011

Abate by

Jan 6, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.179(j)(2): The items listed in subparagraphs (j)(2)(i)-(vii) were not inspected for defects at intervals as defined in paragraph (j)(1)(ii) of this section or as specifically indicated, and all deficiencies were not carefully examined and a determination made as to whether they constituted a safety hazard:    On or about November 3, 2011 the employer did not do daily visual inspections on the overhead cranes.