OSHA Inspection: TELLURIDE STONE COMPANY

Issued

Jan 17, 2013

Abate by

Mar 25, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,570 · Current $2,499 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1):  Employees were subjected to sound levels exceeding those listed in Table G-16 of Subpart G of 29 CFR 1910.95 and feasible administrative or engineering controls were not utilized to reduce sound levels:    (a) Telluride Stone Company, at 1471 Highway 141, Whitewater, CO: On 11/14/12, employees were subjected to sound levels exceeding those listed in Table G-16 of Subpart G of 29 CFR 1910.95 and feasible administrative or engineering controls were not utilized to reduce sound levels.  On 11/14/12 one employee operating a Park Industries TXS 5500 thin cutting machine in Building Two was exposed to noise at a dose in excess of the one hundred percent dose Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL).  The employee was exposed to noise at a dose of 367%.  This is 3.67 times the PEL.  The employer had not implemented engineering or administrative controls to reduce noise exposure to below the levels listed in Table G-16.  This condition exposed the employee to a hazardous noise dose.    (b) Telluride Stone Company, at 1471 Highway 141, Whitewater, CO: On 11/14/12, employees were subjected to sound levels exceeding those listed in Table G-16 of Subpart G of 29 CFR 1910.95 and feasible administrative or engineering controls were not utilized to reduce sound levels.  On 11/14/12 one employee operating a Park Industries TXS 5500 thin cutting machine in Building Two was exposed to noise at a dose in excess of the one hundred percent dose Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL).  The employee was exposed to noise at a dose of 526%.  This is 5.26 times the PEL.  The employer had not implemented engineering or administrative controls to reduce noise exposure to below the levels listed in Table G-16.  This condition exposed the employee to a hazardous noise dose.    Abatement Note:  Feasible engineering controls include, but are not limited to:    A reduction in employee noise exposure would be considered significant if a three to five decibel noise level decrease is achieved (CPL 2-2.35A).    1) Use of hollow core or other manufacturer designed "quieter" saw blades	  2) Reduction of rpm's of saw blades.  3) Affixing noise reduction treatments to walls to reduce reverberation.  4) Hanging noise reduction treatments from ceilings.      5) Separating machinery using insulated walls that extend higher than the machinery.     Abatement Note:  Abatement of this item will normally be multi-step as follows:    STEP 1: Effective hearing protection shall be provided 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 exposure limits.    Hearing Conservation Program (with some estimated costs):  1) At least sixteen employees need to be enrolled in a program (as provided by Brendon Gallegos).  2) Average annual cost of inclusion in program is $25/employee.  3) Estimated company cost for one year is $400.  4) Program to include all provisions required by OSHA Standards.  5) Costs associated with purchasing hearing protection are part of the existing PPE Program of the company.  No additional costs anticipated.  6) Indirect costs include, but are not limited to, development of a written hearing conservation program, decreased production on audiometric testing day(s), and follow-up noise monitoring.    STEP 1 ABATEMENT DATE (30 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 to industrial noise.  The plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which should be consistent with the dates required by this citation:  1) Evaluation of the extent and location of the hazard source(s);  2) Evaluation of control measure options;  3) Selection of optimum control measures;  4) Determination of control measure design;  5) Ordering and delivery of equipment;  6) Installation of control measures;  7) Training of employees in proper orientation and maintenance of newly implemented control measures; and   8) Assurance of the effective performance of control measures.    All proposed control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use by a competent Industrial Hygienist or other technically qualified person.  Thirty (30) day progress reports are required during the abatement period.  The progress report must identify the action taken to achieve abatement and the date the action was taken.    STEP 2 ABATEMENT DATE (60 DAYS):     STEP 3:  Abatement will be completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls and upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.    STEP 3 ABATEMENT DATE (120 DAYS):

Issued

Jan 17, 2013

Abate by

Feb 22, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(6): The employer did not obtain a new audiogram, at least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram,  for each employee exposed at or above an 8 hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:    (a) Telluride Stone Company, at 1471 Highway 141, Whitewater, CO: On 11/14/12, Telluride Stone Company did not obtain a new audiogram, at least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram,  for each employee exposed at or above an 8 hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.  On 11/14/12 one employee unloading cut stone from a Park Industries TXS 4500 corner cutting machine in Building One was exposed to noise at a dose in excess of the fifty percent dose Action Level (AL).  The employee was exposed to noise at a dose of 122.1%.  This is 2.44 times the AL.  The employer did not provide an annual audiogram after obtaining a baseline audiogram two years prior.     (b) Telluride Stone Company, at 1471 Highway 141, Whitewater, CO: On 11/14/12, Telluride Stone Company did not obtain a new audiogram, at least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram,  for each employee exposed at or above an 8 hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.  On 11/14/12 one employee packaging cut stone in Building Two was exposed to noise at a dose in excess of the fifty percent dose Action Level (AL).  The employee was exposed to noise at a dose of 122.7%.  This is 2.45 times the AL.  The employer did not provide an annual audiogram after obtaining a baseline audiogram two years prior.     (c) Telluride Stone Company, at 1471 Highway 141, Whitewater, CO: On 11/14/12, Telluride Stone Company did not obtain a new audiogram, at least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram,  for each employee exposed at or above an 8 hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.  On 11/14/12 one employee operating a Park Industries TXS 5500 thin cutting machine in Building Two was exposed to noise at a dose in excess of the fifty percent dose Action Level (AL).  The employee was exposed to noise at a dose of 464%.  This is 9.28 times the AL.  The employer did not provide an annual audiogram after obtaining a baseline audiogram two years prior.     (d) Telluride Stone Company, at 1471 Highway 141, Whitewater, CO: On 11/14/12, Telluride Stone Company did not obtain a new audiogram, at least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram,  for each employee exposed at or above an 8 hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.  On 11/14/12 one employee operating a Park Industries TXS 5500 thin cutting machine in Building Two was exposed to noise at a dose in excess of the fifty percent dose Action Level (AL).  The employee was exposed to noise at a dose of 670%.  This is 13.4 times the AL.  The employer did not provide an annual audiogram after obtaining a baseline audiogram two years prior.

Issued

Jan 17, 2013

Abate by

Feb 22, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,785 · Current $1,249 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a):  Protective equipment was not used when necessary whenever hazards capable of causing injury and impairment were encountered:    (a) Telluride Stone Company, at 1471 Highway 141, Whitewater, CO: On and preceding 11/14/12, Telluride Stone Company did not ensure that protective equipment was used when necessary whenever hazards capable of causing injury and impairment were encountered.  Employees worked in the yard and throughout the facility while rough terrain forklifts were transporting pallets of river rock.  No lighting was provided for traffic areas.  The employer did not ensure that protective equipment in the form of high visibilty clothing was used by employees who worked in the yard or in proximity to operating rough terrain forklifts.  This condition exposed employees to a struck-by hazard.

Issued

Jan 17, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,570 · Current $2,499 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested, or required to use the respirator in the workplace:    (a) Telluride Stone Company, at 1471 Highway 141, Whitewater, CO: On and preceding 11/14/12, Telluride Stone Company did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested, or required to use the respirator in the workplace.  Employees cut and packaged stone.  This process generated respirable silica.  Employees were required to wear MSA Comfo half mask air purifying respirators with P100 filters.  The employer did not ensure that all employees were provided with a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator.  This condition exposed one employee to a respiratory hazard.

Issued

Jan 17, 2013

Abate by

Mar 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): The employer did not ensure that employees using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator were fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece was used, and at least annually thereafter:    (a) Telluride Stone Company, at 1471 Highway 141, Whitewater, CO: On 11/14/12, Telluride Stone Company did not ensure that employees using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator were fit tested whenever a different respirator facepiece was used.  On 11/14/12 one employee unloading cut stone from a Park Industries TXS 4500 corner cutting machine in Building One was exposed to respirable silica at a concentration greater than the 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.208 mg/m3.  The employee was exposed to respirable silica at a concentration of 0.360 mg/m3 as an 8 hour TWA.  This is 1.73 times the PEL.  Air monitoring was conducted for 378 minutes.  The employee wore a MSA Comfo half mask air purifying respirator with P100 filters.  The employee had failed the fit test using a MSA Comfo half mask air purifying respirator size small.  The employer did not fit test the employee with the larger size respirator.  This condition exposed the employee to a respiratory hazard.    (b)  Telluride Stone Company, at 1471 Highway 141, Whitewater, CO: On 11/14/12, Telluride Stone Company did not ensure that employees using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator were fit tested whenever a different respirator facepiece was used.  One employee was exposed to respirable silica while packaging cut stone.  The employee wore a MSA Comfo half mask air purifying respirator with P100 filters.  The employee had failed the fit test using a MSA Comfo half mask air purifying respirator size small.  The employer did not fit test the employee with the larger size respirator.  This condition exposed the employee to a respiratory hazard.

Issued

Jan 17, 2013

Abate by

May 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(c): Employee exposure to a substance listed in Table Z-3 exceeded the 8 hour Time Weighted Average for that substance:    (a) Telluride Stone Company, at 1471 Highway 141, Whitewater, CO: On 11/14/12, employee exposure to a substance listed in Table Z-3 exceeded the 8 hour Time Weighted Average for that substance.  On 11/14/12 one employee unloading cut stone from a Park Industries TXS 4500 corner cutting machine in Building One was exposed to respirable silica at a concentration greater than the 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.208 mg/m3.  The employee was exposed to respirable silica at a concentration of 0.360 mg/m3 as an 8 hour TWA.  This is 1.73 times the PEL.  Air monitoring was conducted for 378 minutes.    (b) Telluride Stone Company, at 1471 Highway 141, Whitewater, CO: On 11/14/12, employee exposure to a substance listed in Table Z-3 exceeded the 8 hour Time Weighted Average for that substance.  On 11/14/12 one employee packaging cut stone in Building Two was exposed to respirable silica at a concentration greater than the 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.233 mg/m3.  The employee was exposed to respirable silica at a concentration of 0.844 mg/m3 as an 8 hour TWA.  This is 3.62 times the PEL.  Air monitoring was conducted for 393 minutes.    (c) Telluride Stone Company, at 1471 Highway 141, Whitewater, CO: On 11/14/12, employee exposure to a substance listed in Table Z-3 exceeded the 8 hour Time Weighted Average for that substance.  On 11/14/12 one employee operating a Park Industries TXS 5500 thin cutting machine in Building Two was exposed to respirable silica at a concentration greater than the 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.250 mg/m3.  The employee was exposed to respirable silica at a concentration of 0.835 mg/m3 as an 8 hour TWA.  This is 3.34 times the PEL.  Air monitoring was conducted for 378 minutes.    (d) Telluride Stone Company, at 1471 Highway 141, Whitewater, CO: On 11/14/12, employee exposure to a substance listed in Table Z-3 exceeded the 8 hour Time Weighted Average for that substance.  On 11/14/12 one employee operating a Park Industries TXS 5500 thin cutting machine in Building Two was exposed to respirable silica at a concentration greater than the 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.200 mg/m3.  The employee was exposed to respirable silica at a concentration of 1.756 mg/m3 as an 8 hour TWA.  This is 8.78 times the PEL.  Air monitoring was conducted for 389 minutes.

Issued

Jan 17, 2013

Abate by

Mar 25, 2014

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):    (a) Telluride Stone Company, at 1471 Highway 141, Whitewater, CO: On 11/14/12, Telluride Stone Company did not ensure that feasible administrative or engineering controls were determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d).  On 11/14/12 one employee unloading cut stone from a Park Industries TXS 4500 corner cutting machine in Building One was exposed to respirable silica at a concentration greater than the 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.208 mg/m3.  The employee was exposed to respirable silica at a concentration of 0.360 mg/m3 as an 8 hour TWA.  This is 1.73 times the PEL.  Air monitoring was conducted for 378 minutes.    (b) Telluride Stone Company, at 1471 Highway 141, Whitewater, CO: On 11/14/12, Telluride Stone Company did not ensure that feasible administrative or engineering controls were determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d).  On 11/14/12 one employee packaging cut stone in Building Two was exposed to respirable silica at a concentration greater than the 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.233 mg/m3.  The employee was exposed to respirable silica at a concentration of 0.844 mg/m3 as an 8 hour TWA.  This is 3.62 times the PEL.  Air monitoring was conducted for 393 minutes.    (c) Telluride Stone Company, at 1471 Highway 141, Whitewater, CO: On 11/14/12, Telluride Stone Company did not ensure that feasible administrative or engineering controls were determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d).  On 11/14/12 one employee operating a Park Industries TXS 5500 thin cutting machine in Building Two was exposed to respirable silica at a concentration greater than the 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.250 mg/m3.  The employee was exposed to respirable silica at a concentration of 0.835 mg/m3 as an 8 hour TWA.  This is 3.34 times the PEL.  Air monitoring was conducted for 378 minutes.    (d) Telluride Stone Company, at 1471 Highway 141, Whitewater, CO: On 11/14/12, Telluride Stone Company did not ensure that feasible administrative or engineering controls were determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d).  On 11/14/12 one employee operating a Park Industries TXS 5500 thin cutting machine in Building Two was exposed to respirable silica at a concentration greater than the 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.200 mg/m3.  The employee was exposed to respirable silica at a concentration of 1.756 mg/m3 as an 8 hour TWA.  This is 8.78 times the PEL.  Air monitoring was conducted for 389 minutes.    Abatement Note:  Feasible engineering controls include, but are not limited to:  1) Thorough initial cleaning, using water or HEPA vacuums, of all surfaces, including floors, walls, and equipment, to remove settled rock dust.	  2) Daily removal, using water or HEPA vacuums, of generated rock dust.  3) Ensure effective filtration of water used to control dust at the saw blades.  4) Local exhaust ventilation at the Park Industries rock cutting machines in Buildings 1 and 2.  5) Using wet methods to remove rock dust off cut stone following cutting at the machines and while packaging.    Abatement Note:  Abatement of this item will normally be multi-step as follows:    1. Effective respiratory protection shall be provided 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 exposure limits.    STEP 1 ABATEMENT DATE (15 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 exposures to the hazardous substance referenced in this citation.  The plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which should 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 measures;  d. Determination of control measure design;  e. Ordering and delivery of equipment;  f. Installation of control measures;  g. Training of employees in proper operation and maintenance of newly implemented control measures; and  h. Assurance of the effective performance of control measures.    All proposed control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use by a competent Industrial Hygienist or other technically qualified person.  Thirty day progress reports are required during the abatement period.  The progress report must identify the action taken to achieve abatement and the date the action was taken.    STEP 2 ABATEMENT DATE (60 DAYS):     3. Abatement will be completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls and upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.    STEP 3 ABATEMENT DATE (120 DAYS):

Issued

Jan 17, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,785 · Current $1,253 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): Employer had not developed or implemented a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g) and (h) will be met:    (a) Telluride Stone Company, at 1471 Highway 141, Whitewater, CO: On and preceding 11/14/12, Telluride Stone Company had not developed or implemented a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g) and (h) will be met.  Hazardous chemicals located in the workplace included, but are not limited to the following:    1.  Propane;  2.  Diesel fuel;  3.  Motor oil; and  4.  Silica.

Issued

Jan 17, 2013

Abate by

Feb 22, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8): The employer did not ensure that Material Safety Data Sheets were readily accessible to the employees in their work area during each work shift:    (a) Telluride Stone Company, at 1471 Highway 141, Whitewater, CO: On and preceding 11/14/12, Telluride Stone Company did not ensure that Material Safety Data Sheets were readily accessible to the employees in their work area during each work shift.  The employer did not ensure that Material Safety Data Sheets were located at the workplace.  Hazardous chemicals located in the workplace included, but are not limited to the following:    1.  Propane;  2.  Diesel fuel;  3.  Motor oil; and  4.  Silica.

Issued

Jan 17, 2013

Abate by

Feb 22, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard in the workplace:    (a) Telluride Stone Company, at 1471 Highway 141, Whitewater, CO: On and preceding 11/14/12 Telluride Stone Company did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard in the workplace, in that a wood fueled stove was used to heat the workspace.  The flue did not exhaust all combustion products from the workspace.  The employer did not evaluate employee exposure to carbon monoxide and wood smoke.  This condition potentially exposed employees to a respiratory hazard.