OSHA Inspection: LEAR CORPORATION

Issued

Mar 1, 2013

Abate by

Apr 17, 2013

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,200 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 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:      A.  On February 28, 2013, an employee operating a forklift truck in and around Row 2 was exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 62% of the allowable eight-hour time-weighted-average of, 85 dBA.  The equivalent dBA level of the 62% is approximately 86.55 dBA which is capable of causing permanent hearing loss.  The sampling was performed for 409 minutes during one work shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time period of 71 minutes.    B. On February 28, 2013, an employee performing velcro set on Row 2 was exposed to continuous and intermittent noise at 130.5% of the allowable eight-hour time-weighted-average of, 85 dBA.  The equivalent dBA level of the 130.5% is approximately 91.92 dBA which is capable of causing permanent hearing loss.  The sampling was performed for 434 minutes during one work shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time period of 46 minutes.