OSHA Inspection: FAHS CONSTRUCTION GROUP

Issued

Nov 26, 2012

Abate by

Dec 14, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,825 · Current $3,825

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(i):     The employer did not select and provide appropriate respiratory protection based on the respiratory hazard(s) to which the worker(s) was exposed and workplace and user factors that affect respirator performance and reliability.    a) Pierce Street bridge rehabilitation site, Kingston, PA, an employee was exposed to silica at an 8 hour time weighted average of 18.75 million particles per cubic feet (mppcf) while performing concrete demolition work.  The employee did not wear respiratory protection, August 6, 2012.    b) Pierce Street bridge rehabilitation site, Kingston, PA, an employee was exposed to silica at an 8 hour time weighted average of 11.67 million particles per cubic feet (mppcf) while performing concrete demolition work.  The employee did not wear respiratory protection, August 6, 2012.    "ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED"

Issued

Nov 26, 2012

Abate by

Dec 29, 2012

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.55(a):     Employee(s) were exposed to material(s) at concentrations above those specified in the Threshold Limit Values of Airborne Contaminants for 1970 of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists:     a) Pierce Street bridge rehabilitation site, Kingston, PA, an employee was exposed to silica at an 8 hour time weighted average of 18.75 million particles per cubic feet (mppcf) while performing concrete demolition work.  The exposure was 1.9 times the Permissible Exposure Limit of 10.0 mppcf.  The PEL was established to prevent silicosis.  The exposure was established over 200 minutes of personal sampling conducted on August 6, 2012.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time.    b) Pierce Street bridge rehabilitation site, Kingston, PA, an employee was exposed to silica at an 8 hour time weighted average of 11.67 million particles per cubic feet (mppcf) while performing concrete demolition work.  The exposure was 1.1 times the Permissible Exposure Limit of 10.9 mppcf.  The PEL was established to prevent silicosis.  The exposure was established over 200 minutes of personal sampling conducted on August 6, 2012.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time.    "ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED"

Issued

Nov 26, 2012

Abate by

Jan 28, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,825 · Current $3,825

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.55(b):     Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not implemented to reduce employee exposure(s):    a) Pierce Street bridge rehabilitation site, Kingston, PA, an employee was exposed to silica at an 8 hour time weighted average of 18.75 million particles per cubic feet (mppcf) while performing concrete demolition work.  Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not implemented to reduce the employees exposure, August 6, 2012.       b) Pierce Street bridge rehabilitation site, Kingston, PA, an employee was exposed to silica at an 8 hour time weighted average of 11.67 million particles per cubic feet (mppcf) while performing concrete demolition work.  Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not implemented to reduce the employees exposure, August 6, 2012.       "ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED"    General methods of control would include, but are not limited to the following:      1.  Separate the employees who performed jack hammering such that each employees individual hammer exhaust would not blow dust into the breathing zones of other employees.    2.  Use water misting at the point of operation of the jack hammer.     3. Use ventilation to move the dust out of the work spaces between the bridge joists while employees work on the wooden subfloors.    Abatement Schedule      Step 1 Effective respiratory protection shall be provided to and used by exposed employees as an interim protective measure until feasible engineering and/or administrative controls can be implemented or whenever such controls fail to reduce employee exposure to within permissible exposure limits.    Step 2 A written detailed plan of abatement shall be submitted to the Area Director outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee exposures to hazardous substances as referenced in this citation. This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the abatement dates required by this citation:       (1)  Evaluation of engineering/administrative control options;      (2)  Selection of optimum control methods and completion of design;      (3)  Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures;      (4)  Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls.      All proposed control measures shall be approved for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person.       Step 3 Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and /or administrative controls upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.         Date by Which Violation Must be Abated:    STEP - 1     (15 days)      Date by Which Violation Must be Abated:    STEP - 2     (30 days)     Date by Which Violation Must be Abated:    STEP - 2     (60 days)