OSHA Inspection: RAM PLASTICS COMPANY

Issued

Jan 30, 2012

Abate by

Feb 21, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,680 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1):     When information indicated that any employee's exposure equaled or exceed the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program:    a. An employee operating a press was exposed to noise on or about 1/6/12. The employee had a time weighted average of 88.5 dBA and a dose of 81.78% which is above the action level for hearing conservation program implementation. The total sampling time was 435 minutes, with the remaining 45 minutes considered as zero exposure.    b. An employee operating a press was exposed to noise on or about 1/6/12. The employee had a time weighted average of 85.0 dBA and a dose of 50.13% which is above the action level for hearing conservation program implementation. The total sampling time was 432 minutes, with the remaining 48 minutes considered as zero exposure.     The employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program.

Issued

Jan 30, 2012

Abate by

Mar 30, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,680 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(1):     The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided by 29 CFR 1910.95(g) by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:    a. An employee operating a press was exposed to noise on or about 1/6/12. The employee had a time weighted average of 88.5 dBA and a dose of 81.78% which is above the action level for hearing conservation program implementation. The total sampling time was 435 minutes, with the remaining 45 minutes considered as zero exposure.    b. An employee operating a press was exposed to noise on or about 1/6/12. The employee had a time weighted average of 85.0 dBA and a dose of 50.13% which is above the action level for hearing conservation program implementation. The total sampling time was 432 minutes, with the remaining 48 minutes considered as zero exposure.     The employer did not have an audiometric testing program when employee exposures to noise exceeded an 8 hour time weighted average of 85 decibels.

Issued

Jan 30, 2012

Abate by

Mar 30, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(5)(i):     The employer did not establish, within 6 months of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level, a valid baseline audiogram against which subsequent audiograms can be compared:    a. An employee operating a press was exposed to noise on or about 1/6/12. The employee had a time weighted average of 88.5 dBA and a dose of 81.78% which is above the action level for hearing conservation program implementation. The total sampling time was 435 minutes, with the remaining 45 minutes considered as zero exposure.    b. An employee operating a press was exposed to noise on or about 1/6/12. The employee had a time weighted average of 85.0 dBA and a dose of 50.13% which is above the action level for hearing conservation program implementation. The total sampling time was 432 minutes, with the remaining 48 minutes considered as zero exposure.    Employees did not receive a baseline audiogram within 6 months of their first exposure to noise at or above the action level.

Issued

Jan 30, 2012

Abate by

Feb 21, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,680 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(i)(2)(ii)(A):     The employer did not ensure that hearing protectors are worn by any employee who is exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels or greater and has not yet had a baseline audiogram established pursuant to 29 CFR 1910.95(g)(5)(ii):    a. An employee operating a press was exposed to noise on or about 1/6/12. The employee had a time weighted average of 88.5 dBA and a dose of 81.78% which is above the action level for hearing conservation program implementation. The total sampling time was 435 minutes, with the remaining 45 minutes considered as zero exposure.    b. An employee operating a press was exposed to noise on or about 1/6/12. The employee had a time weighted average of 85.0 dBA and a dose of 50.13% which is above the action level for hearing conservation program implementation. The total sampling time was 432 minutes, with the remaining 48 minutes considered as zero exposure.     Employees that were exposed to noise in excess of the OSHA action level and who had not received a baseline audiogram were not wearing hearing protection.

Issued

Jan 30, 2012

Abate by

Feb 21, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(i)(3):     Employees were not given the opportunity to select their hearing protectors from a variety of suitable hearing protectors provided by the employer:    Only one form of hearing protection in the form of ear plugs was provided to employees.

Issued

Jan 30, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,380 · Current $2,380

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1):     One or more methods of machine guarding was not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:    A machine used to grind plastic near line #1 was not properly guarded in that rotating parts on which an individual could get caught were exposed.