OSHA Inspection: BANDERAS STONE SUPPLY INC.

Issued

Oct 30, 2013

Abate by

Nov 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $2,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(1): Open-sided floors and/or platforms four feet or more above adjacent floor or ground level were not guarded with standard railings (or equivalent) and toeboards: Note: Toeboards are only required when persons can pass, there is moving equipment or there is equipment with which falling materials could create a hazard.  This violation was discovered on August 9, 2013, in the fabrication shop, where an open-sided storage area located 8.5 feet above the lower level was not guarded with a standard railing.

Issued

Oct 30, 2013

Abate by

Nov 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $2,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(d)(1)(ii): Stairway(s) less than 44 inches wide having one side open, did not have at least one stair railing on the open side:  This violation was discovered on August 9, 2013, in the fabrication shop, where stairs to a storage area did not have a stair railing on the open side.

Issued

Oct 30, 2013

Abate by

Nov 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.24(e): Fixed stairs were not installed at angles to the horizontal of between 30 degrees and 50 degrees:  This violation was discovered on August 9, 2013, in the fabrication shop, where stairs to a storage area had an angle to the horizontal greater than 50 degrees.

Issued

Oct 30, 2013

Abate by

Nov 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.24(f): Rise height and tread width were not uniform throughout any flight of stairs including any foundation structure used as one or more treads of the stairs:  This violation was discovered on August 9, 2013, in the fabrication shop, where stairs to a storage area did not have uniform rise height.

Issued

Oct 30, 2013

Abate by

Nov 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $2,000

Hazardous substances 8111

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 (TWA) sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (dBA), or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:    This violation occurred on August 22, 2013, when the employer had not administered a hearing conservation program for employees exposed to noise that exceeded an 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA:  a. In fabrication shop, an employee was exposed to continuous noise levels at 77.39% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 77.39% is approximately 88.1 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 299 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 181 minutes.  b. In the fabrication shop, an employee was exposed to continuous noise levels at 114.8% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 114.8% is approximately 90.9 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 445 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 35 minutes.

Issued

Oct 30, 2013

Abate by

Nov 7, 2013

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,600

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation:  This violation occurred on August 22, 2013, in the fabrication shop, where employees using grinders were not protected from eye injuries by wearing protective eyewear.

Issued

Oct 30, 2013

Abate by

Nov 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:  This violation was discovered on August 9, 2013, when the employer had not established and implemented a written respiratory protection program for employees wearing respirators during granite countertop and tabletop fabrication.

Issued

Oct 30, 2013

Abate by

Nov 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form:  This violation was discovered on August 9, 2013, when the employer had not identified and evaluated respiratory hazards during granite countertop and tabletop fabrication.

Issued

Oct 30, 2013

Abate by

Nov 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(3)(i)(B)(1): The employer did not select a respirator for employee use that maintained the employee's exposure to the hazardous substance, when measured outside the respirator, at or below the maximum use concentration:  a. This violation occurred on August 22, 2013, in the fabrication shop, where an employee who was exposed to respirable dust containing 20% crystalline silica (quartz) at an airborne concentration of 17 milligrams per cubic meter of air, as an 8-hour time-weighted average, was provided with a half mask air-purifying respirator that had a maximum use concentration of 4.55 milligrams per cubic meter of air.      b. This violation occurred on August 22, 2013, in the fabrication shop, where an employee who was exposed to respirable dust containing 17% crystalline silica (quartz) at an airborne concentration of 12 milligrams per cubic meter of air, as an 8-hour time-weighted average, was provided with a half mask air-purifying respirator that had a maximum use concentration of 5.26 milligrams per cubic meter of air.

Issued

Oct 30, 2013

Abate by

Nov 12, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.243(c)(3): Abrasive wheels used on vertical portable grinder(s) (right angle head grinders) were not provided with safety guard(s) having a maximum exposure angle of 180 degrees and located between the operator and wheel:  This violation was discovered on August 22, 2013, in the fabrication shop, where employees used portable grinders without safety guards.

Issued

Oct 30, 2013

Abate by

Nov 12, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $2,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii): Flexible cords were not connected to devices and fittings so that tension would not be transmitted to joints or terminal screws:  This violation was discovered on August 22, 2013, in the fabrication shop, where outer insulation of flexible cords used to supply power to portable grinders had separated from the plugs, exposing conductors to strain.

Issued

Oct 30, 2013

Abate by

Nov 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

1910.1000(c): Employee(s) were exposed to respirable crystalline silica quartz, listed in Table Z-3, in excess of the calculated 8-hour time-weighted average concentration:    a. This violation occurred on August 22, 2013, in the fabrication shop, where an employee was exposed to respirable dust containing 20% crystalline silica (quartz) at an 8-hour time-weighted average of 17 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) of air, approximately 36.7 times the permissible exposure limit of 0.455 mg/m3.  Sampling was performed for 297 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 183 minutes.  b. This violation occurred on August 22, 2013, in the fabrication shop, where an employee was exposed to respirable dust containing 17% crystalline silica (quartz) at an 8-hour time-weighted average of 12 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) of air, approximately 23.5 times the permissible exposure limit of 0.526 mg/m3.  Sampling was performed for 439 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 41 minutes.

Issued

Oct 30, 2013

Abate by

Nov 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9010

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):    This violation occurred on August 22, 2013, in the fabrication shop, where the employer had not implemented engineering and work practice controls to reduce employee exposure to respirable dust containing crystalline silica to or below the permissible exposure limit during granite countertop and tabletop fabrication.

Issued

Oct 30, 2013

Abate by

Nov 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

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:  This violation was discovered on August 1, 2013, when the employer had not developed, implemented, and maintained a written hazard communication program for employees performing granite countertop fabrication who were exposed to hazardous chemicals including, but not limited to, respirable dust containing crystalline silica.