OSHA Inspection: OWENS CORNING AMARILLO PLANT

Issued

2013-09-26 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-11-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5100.00 · Current $3060.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(i): The employer did not select and provide an appropriate respirator based on the respiratory hazard(s) to which the worker is exposed:    On or about June 6, 2013, employee(s) exposed to respiratory hazards in that the employer did not provide an appropriate respirator for the respiratory hazards in the workplace.    A batch house operator was exposed to respirable silica dust at a level of 1.0000 milligrams per cubic meter of air. This was 2.508 times the calculated 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) permissible exposure limit of 0.435 milligrams per cubic meter of air. Sampling was conducted for 458 minutes during one shift on June 6, 2013. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time (22 minutes).

Issued

2013-09-26 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-11-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5100.00 · Current $3060.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(c): Employees were exposed to crystalline silica (quartz) and respirable dust, listed in Table Z-3, in excess of  8-hour Time-Weighted Average concentrations listed for those materials:    a) A batch house operator was exposed to respirable silica dust at a level of 1.0000 milligrams per cubic meter of air. This was 2.508 times the calculated 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) permissible exposure limit of 0.435 milligrams per cubic meter of air. Sampling was conducted for 458 minutes during one shift on June 6, 2013. Zero exposue was assumed for the unsampled period of time (22 minutes).    b) A batch house operator was exposed to respirable silica dust at a level of 2.10000 milligrams per cubic meter of air. This was 9.12 times the calculated 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) permissible exposure limit of 0.227 milligrams per cubic meter of air. Sampling was conducted for 443 minutes during one shift on June 6, 2013. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time (37 minutes).    c) A batch house operator was exposed to respirable silica dust at a level of 1.00000 milligrams per cubic meter of air. This was 3.504 times the calculated 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) permissible exposure limit of 0.294 milligrams per cubic meter of air. Sampling was conducted for 488 minutes during one shift on June 27, 2013.     d) A batch house operator was exposed to respirable silica dust at a level of 8.10000 milligrams per cubic meter of air. This was 44.54 times the calculated time-weighted average (TWA) permissible exposure limit of 0.182 milligrams per cubic meter of air. Sampling was conducted for 446 minutes during one shift on June 27, 2013. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time (34 minutes).

Issued

2013-09-26 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-11-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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):    a) A batch house operator was exposed to respirable silica dust at a level of 1.00000 milligrams per cubic meter of air. This was 2.508 times the calculated 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) permissible exposure limit of 0.435 milligrams per cubic meter of air. Sampling was conducted for 458 minutes during one shift on June 6, 2013. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time (22 minutes).    b) A batch house operator was exposed to respirable silica dust at a level of 2.10000 milligrams per cubic meter of air. This was 9.12 times the calculated 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) permissible exposure limit of 0.227 milligrams per cubic meter of air. Sampling was conducted for 443 minutes during one shift on June 6, 2013. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time (37 minutes).    c) A batch house operator was exposed to respirable silica dust at a level of 1.00000 milligrams per cubic meter of air. This was 3.504 times the calculated 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) permissible exposure limit of 0.294 milligrams per cubic meter of air. Sampling was conducted for 488 minutes during one shift on June 27, 2013.    d) A batch house operator was exposed to respirable silica dust at a level of 8.10000 milligrams per cubic meter of air. This was 44.54 times the calculated time-weighted average (TWA) permissible exposure limit of 0.182 milligrams per cubic meter of air. Sampling was conducted for 446 minutes during one shift on June 27, 2013. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time (34 minutes).    Feasible methods of engineering control for this exposure includes but are not limited to:    Install adequate ventilation to reduce the silica dust.    Administrative measures to reduce exposure include but are not limited to:  (1) Rotate employee.  (2) Monitor airborne silica exposure on a periodic basis (such as annually or quarterly).    Ultimate responsibility for determining the most appropriate abatement method rests with the employer given knowledge of the specific conditions at the workplace.