OSHA Inspection: BIG SKY INSULATION, INC.

Issued

2013-02-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-05-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $3500.00

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 (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) EPS Panel Core Preparation Area: On or about January 23, 2013, and at times prior thereto, an employee using running the panel edge grinder was exposed to continuous noise levels in excess of the allowable 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) sound level of 85 dbA. The employer did not implement an effective hearing conservation program in that baseline / annual audiometric testing was not conducted. Noise sampling performed for 259 minutes indicated exposure to a 164.4% noise dose which is equivalent to approximately 93.5 dbA. Zero exposure was assumed for the 221 minutes not sampled.      (b) EPS Panel Core Preparation Area: On or about January 23, 2013, and at times prior thereto, an employee using the panel edge grinder was exposed to continuous noise levels in excess of the allowable 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) sound level of 85 dbA. The employer did not implement an effective hearing conservation program in that baseline / annual audiometric testing was not conducted. Noise sampling performed for 261 minutes indicated exposure to a 143.5% noise dose which is equivalent to approximately 92.6 dbA. Zero exposure was assumed for the 219 minutes not sampled.    (c) EPS Panel Core Preparation Area: On or about January 23, 2013, and at times prior thereto, an employee working around the panel edge grinder was exposed to continuous noise levels in excess of the allowable 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) sound level of 85 dbA. The employer did not implement an effective hearing conservation program in that baseline / annual audiometric testing was not conducted. Noise sampling performed for 262 minutes indicated exposure to a 79.66% noise dose which is equivalent to approximately 88.3 dbA. Zero exposure was assumed for the 218 minutes not sampled.

Issued

2013-02-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-05-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1):     When information indicated that any employee's exposure equaled or exceed the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program:    (a) On or about 22 January 2013 and at times prior the Company did not implement a monitoring program in areas including but not limited to EPS grinder, Mold room, PBA and edge detailing.

Issued

2013-02-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-05-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2800.00 · Current $2380.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b):     Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i.:    (a) On or about January 23, 2013, and at times prior thereto, employees were exposed to air embolisms while using compressed air nozzles with approximately 100 p.s.i of air at the nozzle for tasks such as, but not limited to, cleaning surfaces in and around the panel fabrication area and blowing polystyrene bits off their clothing.