OSHA Inspection: MARBLE MASTERS OF MIDDLE GEORGIA, INC.

Issued

Mar 11, 2013

Abate by

Apr 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,400 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1):     The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employees ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:    On or about October 29, 2012:    1)  400 N Armed Forces Blvd - An employee, required to wear a 3M 6900 full face respirator to protect against silica while grinding products such as granite countertops, was overexposed to respirable silica dust at a concentration of 1.71 mg/m3 (3.26 times the daily Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.53 mg/m3).  The employer did not have the employee medically evaluated prior to use of the respirator.    2)  400 N Armed Forces Blvd - An employee, required to wear 3M 6900 or 3M 7503 half face respirators to protect against silica while grinding products such as granite countertops, was exposed to respirable silica dust while performing these tasks.  The employer did not have the employee medically evaluated prior to use of the respirator.

Issued

Mar 11, 2013

Abate by

Apr 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(1):     The employer did not ensure that employee(s) required to use a tight-fitting facepiece respirator passed the appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT):    On or about October 29, 2012:    1)  400 N Armed Forces Blvd - An employee, required to wear 3M 6900 full face respirator to protect against silica while grinding products such as granite countertops, was overexposed to respirable silica dust at a concentration of 1.71 mg/m3 (3.26 times the daily Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.53 mg/m3).  The employee had not been fit-tested prior to using the respirator.    2)  400 N Armed Forces Blvd - An employee, required to wear 3M 6900 full face or 3M 7503 half face respirator to protect against silica while grinding products such as granite countertops, was exposed to respirable silica dust while performing these tasks.  The employee had not been fit-tested prior to using the respirator.

Issued

Mar 11, 2013

Abate by

Apr 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A):     Respirators with tight-fitting facepieces were worn by employees who had facial hair that came between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interfered with valve function:    On or about October 29, 2012:    400 N Armed Forces Blvd - An employee, required to wear 3M 6900 full face respirator to protect against silica while grinding products such as granite countertops, was overexposed to respirable silica dust at a concentration of 1.71 mg/m3 (3.26 times the daily Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.53 mg/m3).  The employee wore respiratory protection without being clean-shaven.

Issued

Mar 11, 2013

Abate by

Apr 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(1)(i):     Respirators issued for the exclusive use of an employee were not cleaned and disinfected as often as necessary to be maintained in a sanitary condition:    On or about October 29, 2012:    1)  400 N Armed Forces Blvd - An employee, required to wear 3M 6900 full face respirator to protect against silica while grinding products such as granite countertops, was overexposed to respirable silica dust at a concentration of 1.71 mg/m3 (3.26 times the daily Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.53 mg/m3).  The employee's mask was not properly cleaned and disinfected to reduce potential hazards.    2)  400 N Armed Forces Blvd - An employee, required to wear 3M 6900 full face or 3M 7503 half face respirators to protect against silica while grinding products such as granite countertops, was exposed to respirable silica dust while performing these tasks. The employee's mask was not properly cleaned and disinfected to reduce potential hazards.

Issued

Mar 11, 2013

Abate by

Apr 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(2)(i):     Respirators were not stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals or  were not packed or stored to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve:    On or about October 29, 2012:    1)  400 N Armed Forces Blvd - An employee, required to wear 3M 6900 full face respirator to protect against silica while grinding products such as granite countertops, was overexposed to respirable silica dust at a concentration of 1.71 mg/m3 (3.26 times the daily Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.53 mg/m3).  The employee's mask was not properly stored, as it was stored near chemicals between usage.

Issued

Mar 11, 2013

Abate by

Apr 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k):     The employer did not provide comprehensive, understandable training which did not occur annually and/or more often if necessary:    On or about October 29, 2012:    1)  400 N Armed Forces Blvd - An employee, required to wear 3M 6900 full face respirator to protect against silica while grinding products such as granite countertops, was overexposed to respirable silica dust at a concentration of 1.71 mg/m3 (3.26 times the daily Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.53 mg/m3).  The employer failed to provide training annually to all employees required to wear respirators.    2)  400 N Armed Forces Blvd - An employee, required to wear 3M 6900 full face or 3M 7503 half face respirators to protect against silica while grinding products such as granite countertops, was exposed to respirable silica dust while performing these tasks.  The employer failed to provide training to all employees required to wear respirators.

Issued

Mar 11, 2013

Abate by

Apr 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,400 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2):     Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable silica dust listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average concentration of 0.53 mg/m3    On or about 11/28/2012:    400 N Armed Forces Blvd - An employee, engaged in grinding products such as granite countertops in the grinding area, was overexposed to respirable silica dust at a concentration of 1.71 mg/m3 expressed as an 8-hour time weighted average of approximately 3.26 times the daily Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.53 mg/m3 based on a 412 minute sampling period; exposure calculations included a zero-increment for the 68 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Mar 11, 2013

Abate by

Apr 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9010

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 or about 11/28/2012:    400 N Armed Forces Blvd - An employee, engaged in grinding products such as granite countertops in the grinding area, was overexposed to respirable silica dust at a concentration of 1.71 mg/m3 expressed as an 8-hour time weighted average of approximately 3.26 times the daily Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.53 mg/m3 based on a 412 minute sampling period; exposure calculations included a zero-increment for the 68 minutes not sampled.  Engineering controls were not implemented to ensure the employee's exposure to respirable silica were within the permissible exposure limit.

Issued

Mar 11, 2013

Abate by

Apr 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2):     The floor of every workroom shall be maintained in a clean and, so far as possible, a dry condition. Where wet processes are used, drainage shall be maintained, and false floors, platforms, mats, or other dry standing places should be provided where practicable.    On or about October 29, 2012:    Employees working in the cultured marble production and mixing areas of the main facility of Marble Masters use chemicals such as but not limited to, calcium carbonate and polyester resin to create countertops, sinks, and tubs.  The employer did not ensure the work area was clean and orderly as these chemicals had spilled and hardened on the floor.

Issued

Mar 11, 2013

Abate by

Apr 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5)(i):     The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the identity of the hazardous chemical(s) contained therein:    On or about October 29, 2012:    Employees working in the cultured marble production area used various chemicals, such as but not limited to solvents and lubricants.  The employer did not ensure all containers were marked with the identity of the chemicals they contained.

Issued

Mar 11, 2013

Abate by

Apr 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5)(ii):     The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the appropriate hazard warnings:    On or about October 29, 2012:    Employees working in the cultured marble production area used various chemicals, such as but not limited to solvents and lubricants.  The employer did not ensure containers were marked with enough information to warn employees of hazards.