OSHA Inspection: RWS MANUFACTURING, INC.

Issued

May 8, 2013

Abate by

Mar 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,390 · Current $2,264 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): A continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in paragraphs (c) through (n) of this section, was not instituted when employee noise exposures equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels:     (a) On or about 01/25/2013, in the shaving room, shaver operator was not part of a hearing conservation program, working on the shaving machine exposed to continuous noise at 232% of the permissible daily exposure limit (8 hour time weighted average sound level) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 96.1 decibels for 380 minutes.  Zero exposure was assumed for 100 minutes.     (b) On or about 01/25/2013, in the shaving room, shaver helper was not part of a hearing conservation program, working on straightening logs, sweeping, and cleaning up, exposed to continuous noise at 231% of the permissible daily exposure limit (8 hour time weighted average sound level) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 96.0 decibels for 385 minutes.  Zero exposure was assumed for 95 minutes.

Issued

May 8, 2013

Abate by

Mar 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,390 · Current $2,264 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(1): An audiometric testing program was not established and maintained for all employees whose noise exposures equaled or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:     (a) On or about 01/25/2013, in the shaving room, shaver operator had not received audiometric testing, working on the shaving machine exposed to continuous noise at 232% of the permissible daily exposure limit (8 hour time weighted average sound level) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 96.1 decibels for 380 minutes.  Zero exposure was assumed for 100 minutes.     (b) On or about 01/25/2013, in the shaving room, shaver helper had not received audiometric testing, working on straightening logs, sweeping, and cleaning up, exposed to continuous noise at 231% of the permissible daily exposure limit (8 hour time weighted average sound level) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 96.0 decibels for 385 minutes.  Zero exposure was assumed for 95 minutes.

Issued

May 8, 2013

Abate by

Mar 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,390 · Current $2,264 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(i)(3): Employees were not given the opportunity to select their hearing protectors from a variety of suitable hearing protectors provided by the employer:     (a) On or about 01/25/2013, in the shaving room, shaver operator had not been given a variety of hearing protectors, working on the shaving machine exposed to continuous noise at 232% of the permissible daily exposure limit (8 hour time weighted average sound level) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 96.1 decibels for 380 minutes.  Zero exposure was assumed for 100 minutes.     (b) On or about 01/25/2013, in the shaving room, shaver helper had not been given a variety of hearing protectors, working on straightening logs, sweeping, and cleaning up, exposed to continuous noise at 231% of the permissible daily exposure limit (8 hour time weighted average sound level) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 96.0 decibels for 385 minutes.  Zero exposure was assumed for 95 minutes.

Issued

May 8, 2013

Abate by

Mar 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,390 · Current $2,264 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1): A training program was not instituted for all employees who were exposed to noise at or above an 8 hour timeweighted average of 85 decibels:      (a) On or about 01/25/2013, in the shaving room, shaver operator had not received training on noise, working on the shaving machine exposed to continuous noise at 232% of the permissible daily exposure limit (8 hour time weighted average sound level) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 96.1 decibels for 380 minutes.  Zero exposure was assumed for 100 minutes.     (b) On or about 01/25/2013, in the shaving room, shaver helper had not received training on noise, working on straightening logs, sweeping, and cleaning up, exposed to continuous noise at 231% of the permissible daily exposure limit (8 hour time weighted average sound level) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 96.0 decibels for 385 minutes.  Zero exposure was assumed for 95 minutes.

Issued

May 8, 2013

Abate by

Mar 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $880 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(6): The employer did not provide the basic advisory information on respirators, as presented in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, in written or oral format to employees who wear respirators when such use was not required by the employer:    (a) On or about 01/21/2013, at facility, day shift foreman voluntarily used a Moldex 2200 N95 particulate filtering facepiece respirator during blowdown.  The employer did not provide the information contained in Appendix D.     (b) On or about 01/20/2013, at facility, for entrant to burner voluntarily using a Moldex 2200 N95 particulate filtering facepiece respirator.  The employer did not provide the information contained in Appendix D.

Issued

May 8, 2013

Abate by

Mar 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $5,390 · Current $2,264 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1):  The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:     (a) On and before 01/25/2013, throughout the facility,  employees perform operations such as maintenance, bagging of wood shavings and burner cleaning. Employees work with hazardous chemicals such as but not limited to lubricating oils, compressed gases,  combustible wood dust and creosote. Employees were not provided with information and  training on the hazards of the chemicals they work with or are exposed to in their work area.

Issued

May 8, 2013

Abate by

Mar 27, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:    (a) On or about 01/25/2013,  throughout the facility,  employees perform operations such as maintenance, bagging of wood shavings and burner cleaning. Employees work with hazardous chemicals such as but not limited to lubricating oils, compressed gases,  combustible wood dust and creosote. Employees were not provided with information and  training on the hazards of the chemicals they work with or are exposed to in their work area.