OSHA Inspection: NIX FOREST INDUSTRIES, INC.

Issued

Jun 3, 2013

Abate by

Jun 24, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,448 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

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 1910.95 paragraphs (c) through (o), whenever employee noise exposures equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (slow response) or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent:       The employer does not administer an effective hearing conservation program to protect employees from exposure to occupational noise.  This violation was discover on December 20, 2012; where the employer did not administer a hearing conservation program for employees exposed to daily noise levels at or above an 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA:       a) In the planer department, an employee was exposed to continuous noise levels at 388.0% of the allowable 8-hour TWA sound level.  The equivalent dBA level of 388.0% is 99.7.  Sampling was performed for 480 minutes during one shift.       b) In the planer department, an employee was exposed to continuous noise levels at 358.0% of the allowable 8-hour TWA sound level.  The equivalent dBA level of 358.0% is 99.1.  Sampling was performed for 485 minutes during one shift.       c) In the planer department, an employee was exposed to continuous noise levels at 349.0% of the allowable 8-hour TWA sound level.  The equivalent dBA level of 349.0% is 99.0.  Sampling was performed for 490 minutes during one shift.       d) In the planer department, an employee was exposed to continuous noise levels at 258.0% of the allowable 8-hour TWA sound level.  The equivalent dBA level of 258.0% is 96.8.  Sampling was performed for 495 minutes during one shift.       e) In the sawmill department, an employee was exposed to continuous noise levels at 154.1% of the allowable 8-hour TWA sound level.  The equivalent dBA level of 154.1% is 93.1.  Sampling was performed for 480 minutes during one shift.       f) In the sawmill department, an employee was exposed to continuous noise levels at 114.6% of the allowable 8-hour TWA sound level.  The equivalent dBA level of 114.6% is 90.9.  Sampling was performed for 428 minutes during one shift.       g) An employee, who operated a forklift truck, was exposed to continuous noise levels at 142.4% of the allowable 8-hour TWA sound level.  The equivalent dBA level of 142.4% is 92.5.  Sampling was performed for 480 minutes during one shift.