OSHA Inspection: PROFORM INDUSTRIES, LTD.

Issued

May 1, 2013

Abate by

Jun 28, 2013

Penalty

Initial $3,600 · Current $1,800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer shall administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program, as described in paragraphs (c) through (o) of this section, whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed 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. For purposes of the hearing conservation program, employee noise exposures shall be computed in accordance with appendix A and Table G-16a, and without regard to any attenuation provided by the use of personal protective equipment.       a) The employer had not developed and implemented a hearing conservation program for an etching line employee whose noise exposure equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 85 decibels A scale (dBA). The etching line employee, using compressed air to blow water off of fuel tanks, was exposed to continuous noise at 125.9% which exceeded the AL (Action Level) of 50%, an 8-hour TWA sound level of 85 dBA. The employee's 8-hour TWA sound level was approximately 91.7 dBA during the 455 minute sampling period on April 10, 2013. Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 25 minutes not sampled.