OSHA Inspection: CUTTING EDGE GRANITE

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Sep 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $720 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(1)(i): The employer shall ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation specified in this paragraph (l).       (a)   Cutting Edge Granite, 2235 S. Kalamath At., Denver, CO 80204: On and before May 6, 2013, the employer did not ensure that the employees were trained in the safe operation of powered industrial trucks, in that operators were not trained to use the forklifts.  This condition exposed the employee to the hazard of improper forklift operation.       Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").       Abatement Note:  Training shall consist of a combination of formal instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material), practical training (demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee), and evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace.

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Nov 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $1,440 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(c):  Employees were exposed to crystalline silica, listed in Table Z-3, in excess of the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL):      (a)   Cutting Edge Granite, 2235 S. Kalamath St., Denver, CO 80204:  On May 28, 2013 Cutting Edge Granite, did not ensure that employee exposure to crystalline silica did not exceed the 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA). Employee A was exposed to crystalline silica at a concentration greater than the 8 hour TWA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.48 mg/m3.  The employee was exposed to crystalline silica at a concentration of 0.94 mg/m3 as an 8 hour TWA.  This is almost 2 times the PEL.  Air monitoring was conducted for 451 minutes.      (b)   On May 28, 2013 Employee B was exposed to crystalline silica at a concentration greater than the 8 hour TWA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.42 mg/m3.  The employee was exposed to crystalline silica at a concentration of 0.61 mg/m3 as an 8 hour TWA.  This is almost 1.5 times the PEL.  Air monitoring was conducted for 295 minutes.     Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Nov 25, 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 described in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):    (a)   Cutting Edge Granite, 2235 S. Kalamath St., Denver, CO 80204: On May 28, 2013, Cutting Edge Granite did not ensure that employee exposure to a substance listed in Table Z-3 did not exceed the 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) for that substance.  Employees were fabricating granite countertops.  This process generated respirable silica dust. On May 28, Employee A was exposed to respirable silica dust at a concentration greater than the 8 hour TWA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.48 mg/m3.  The employee was exposed to respirable silica dust at a concentration of 0.94 mg/m3 as an 8 hour TWA.  This is almost 2 times the PEL.  Air monitoring was conducted for 451 minutes.    (b)   Cutting Edge Granite, 2235 S. Kalamath St., Denver, CO 80204: On May 28, 2013, Cutting Edge Granite did not ensure that employee exposure to a substance listed in Table Z-3 did not exceed the 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) for that substance.  Employees were fabricating granite countertops.  This process generated respirable silica dust. On May 28, Employee B was exposed to respirable silica dust at a concentration greater than the 8 hour TWA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.42 mg/m3.  The employee was exposed to respirable silica dust at a concentration of 0.61 mg/m3 as an 8 hour TWA.  This is almost 1.5 times the PEL.  Air monitoring was conducted for 295 minutes.       Abatement Note:  Feasible engineering controls include, but are not limited to:    1)                  Local exhaust ventilation; and    2)                  Ensuring the general ventilation of the area is adequate,    3)                  Increasing the general ventilation system in the area  4)                       2)         Installing a conveyor system to move the final product away from the machine so the employee can retrieve it at a location farther away from the machine.     5)                  Automated stone cutting machines which removes the employee from exposure; and    6)                  Maintaining and cleaning the water recycling system more frequently.           STEP 1:           Effective respiratory protection shall be provided and used by exposed employees as an interim protective measure until feasible engineering and/or administrative controls can be implemented or whenever such controls fail to reduce employee exposure to within exposure limits.                              STEP 1 ABATEMENT (30 DAYS):  September 25, 2013                     STEP 2:           Submit to the Area Director a written detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee exposures to silica. The plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which should be consistent with the dates required by this citation:    (a)    Evaluation of the extent and location of the hazard source    (b)   Evaluation of control measure options    (c)    Selection of optimum control measures    (d)   Determination of control measure design    (e)    Ordering and delivery of equipment    (f)    Installation of control measures    (g)   Training of employees in proper operation and maintenance of newly implemented control measures    (h)   Assurance of the effective performance of control measures    All proposed control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use but a competent Industrial Hygienist or other technically qualified person. Thirty (30) day progress reports are required during the abatement period. The progress report must identify the action taken to achieve abatement and the date the action was taken.     STEP 2 ABATEMENT DATE (60 DAYS): October 25, 2013      Step 3:             Abatement will be completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls and upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.                              STEP 3 ABATEMENT DATE (90 DAYS): Novemebr 25, 2013    Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed ?Sample Abatement Certification Letter?).

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Nov 22, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1):  A written respiratory protection program with worksite specific procedures, as specified in subparagraphs (c)(1)(i) through (ix) of this section, was not established and implemented where respirator(s) were required by the employer:       (a)               Cutting Edge Granite, 2235 S. Kalamath At., Denver, CO 80204: On and before May 6, 2013, the employer did not ensure that a written respiratory protection program was established and implemented in the workplace when the employer required the use of respirators during granite countertop fabrication.         Abatement Note:  The written program shall include at least the following:       (1)   Procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace;       (2)   Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators;       (3)   Fit testing procedures for tight fitting respirators;       (4)   Procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations;       (5)   Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfection, storing, inspection., repairing, discarding, and otherwise maintaining respirators;       (6)   Procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow of breathing air for atmosphere-supplying respirators;       (7)   Training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situation;       (8)   Training of employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and their maintenance; and       (9)   Procedure for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program       Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Sep 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1):  The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employees ability to use a respirator, before the employees were fit tested or required to use a respirator in the workplace:     (a)               Cutting Edge Granite, 2235 S. Kalamath At., Denver, CO 80204: On and before May 6, 2013, the employer did not ensure that all employees who are required to wear respirator were medically evaluated.     Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (See enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Nov 22, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $1,440 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1):  The employer did not develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, material safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met:          (a)               Cutting Edge Granite, 2235 S. Kalamath At., Denver, CO 80204: The employer did not develop, implement, and maintain at the workplace specific written hazard communication program which describes how the specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels of warning, material safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met. This condition exposes employees to respiratory hazards associate with silica.       Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Aug 21, 2013

Abate by

Nov 22, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1):  Employers shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new physical or health hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area. Information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards (e.g., flammability, carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and material safety data sheets.       (a)   Cutting Edge Granite, 2235 S. Kalamath At., Denver, CO 80204: On and before May 6, 2013, the employer did not provide employees with information on the health hazards of the chemicals they are working with. This lack of knowledge exposed employees to hazards associated with chemicals such as silica.       Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").