OSHA Inspection: STONE SYSTEMS OF NEW ENGLAND LLC

Issued

Sep 23, 2013

Abate by

Nov 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:    a) Polishing Operation: On or about 3/27/13 the employer had not established a written respiratory protection program for the required use of half mask respirators.      ABATEMENT NOTE: In accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) thru 1910.134(c)(1)(ix)the respirator program must include the following:      a. Procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace, including an evaluation of respiratory hazards in the workplace and a reasonable estimate of employee exposure. (Note: The Rhode Island OSHA Consultation Program (phone: 401-222-7745) provides free monitoring services for qualifying employers);  b. Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator;  c. Fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators. (Note: this service may be available from your respirator vendor);  d. Procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and reasonable foreseeable emergency situations;  e. Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, discarding and otherwise maintaining respirators;  f. Training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations;  g. Training of employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and their maintenance; and  h. Procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program.      Further assistance in developing respirator programs is available in OSHA Small Entity Compliance Guide for the Revised Respiratory Protection Standard.  This document is available on the internet at the following website address:      http://www.osha.gov/Publications/3384small-entity-for-respiratory-protection-standard-rev.pdf

Issued

Sep 23, 2013

Abate by

Oct 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator:  Workplace:  On or about 3/27/13 the employer did not ensure that employees required to wear tight fitting N-95 particulate respirators for respiratory protection were fit tested prior to use.

Issued

Sep 23, 2013

Abate by

Oct 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A): Respirators with tight-fitting facepieces were worn by employees who had facial hair that came between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interfered with valve function:  a) Workplace:  On or about 3/27/13 the employer allowed employees to maintain facial hair while wearing tight fitting half mask respirators which inhibits a proper face to mask seal.

Issued

Sep 23, 2013

Abate by

Oct 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $0 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) On or about 3/27/13 the employer did not provide a medical evaluation for several employees required to wear tight fitting N-95 particulate respirators prior to their use.

Issued

Sep 23, 2013

Abate by

Oct 24, 2013

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(c): An employee(s) was exposed to crystalline quartz silica, respirable fraction in excess of the 8-hour time weighted average limits listed in Table Z-3:    Grinding/Polishing Area , handheld grinders/polishers:  Employees (Grinders/Polishers) working in the Grinding/Polishing area were exposed to crystalline quartz silica (respirable fraction) in excess of the eight hour time weighted average calculated permissible exposure levels (PELs):     The following employees were found over exposed to crystalline quartz silica (respirable fraction):      a)   On June 27, 2013 an employee engaged in grinding /polishing activities was monitored for crystalline quartz silica (respirable fraction) for 476 minutes.  This employee was exposed to .992 milligrams per cubic meter, which is approximately 4.6 times the calculated PEL of .217 milligrams per cubic meter.  A zero exposure level was assumed for any unsampled time.      b)   On June 27, 2013 an employee engaged in grinding /polishing activities was monitored for crystalline quartz silica (respirable fraction) for 282 minutes.  This employee was exposed to 12.74 milligrams per cubic meter, which is approximately 17.50 times the calculated PEL of .728 milligrams per cubic meter.  A zero exposure level was assumed for any unsampled time.    Specific Abatement  Documentation is Required

Issued

Sep 23, 2013

Abate by

Nov 23, 2013

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):  Grinding/Polishing Area , handheld grinders/polishers:  Where employees were exposed to crystalline quartz silica (respirable fraction)  in excess of the eight hour time weighted average calculated permissible exposure levels (PELs), adequate engineering or administrative controls were not implemented:  The following employees were found over exposed to crystalline quartz silica (respirable fraction):    a)   On June 27, 2013 an employee engaged in grinding /polishing activities was monitored for crystalline quartz silica (respirable fraction) for 476 minutes.  This employee was exposed to .992 milligrams per cubic meter, which is approximately 4.6 times the calculated PEL of .217 milligrams per cubic meter.  A zero exposure level was assumed for any unsampled time.    b)   On June 27, 2013 an employee engaged in grinding /polishing activities was monitored for crystalline quartz silica (respirable fraction) for 282 minutes.  This employee was exposed to 12.74 milligrams per cubic meter, which is approximately 17.50 times the calculated PEL of .728 milligrams per cubic meter.  A zero exposure level was assumed for any unsampled time.  Specific Abatement  Documentation is Required

Issued

Sep 23, 2013

Abate by

Oct 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged, or marked with the identity and appropriate hazard warnings regarding the chemicals contained therein:     a) Polishing Operation: On or about 6/27/13 the employer did not ensure that containers of hazardous chemicals including, but not limited to, General Purpose Wash Thinner and Sen Guard were labeled, tagged or marked with the identity of their contents.

Issued

Sep 23, 2013

Abate by

Nov 6, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3): The employee training did not include the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(i) through (h)(3)(iv):  a) Workplace: On or about 3/27/13 the employer had not provided effective information and training to employees on the hazardous chemicals used in their workplace at the time of their initial assignment including, but not limited to, crystalline silica, cleaners and sealants.

Issued

Sep 23, 2013

Abate by

Nov 23, 2013

Penalty

Initial $35,000 · Current $2,500 Reduced

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:    Grinding/Polishing Area, handheld grinders/polishers:  Employees (Grinders/Polishers) working in the Grinding/Polishing area were subject to sound levels exceeding those listed in CFR 29 1910.95 Table G-16:    a)     On 6/27/13 a Grinder/Polisher performing finishing work in this area was exposed to noise levels in excess of OSHA's Action level of 85 dBA for an eight hour time weighted average.  This employee was exposed to noise levels in excess of 87.6 dBA for 468 minutes.  This represents a dose of 71.2 percent of the allowable eight hour time weighted action level of 85 dBA.  Zero exposure was assumed for any unsampled time.      b)    On 6/27/13 a Grinder/Polisher performing finishing work in this area was exposed to noise levels in excess of OSHA's Action level of 85 dBA for an eight hour time weighted average.  This employee was exposed to noise levels in excess of 89.1 dBA for 458 minutes.  This represents a dose of 87.8 percent of the allowable eight hour time weighted action level of 85 dBA.  Zero exposure was assumed for any unsampled time.      Stone Systems of Atlanta was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 312776651, citation number 1 , item number 2, and was affirmed as a final order on 1/29/2011, with respect to a workplace located at Stone Systems of Atlanta, 5000 Bakers Ferry Rd, Atlanta, GA 30336.

Issued

Sep 23, 2013

Abate by

Oct 1, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(2): The employer did not inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit spaces:  a) Water Treatment Area:  On or about 6/27/13 the employer had not posted warning signs, or other equally effective means, to inform employees of the existence of, the location of, and the danger posed by the water holding tanks.