OSHA Inspection: REFLECTIVE RECYCLING OF NEW ENGLAND, LLC

Issued

Dec 23, 2013

Abate by

Feb 11, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 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 1910.9(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:  COMPANY-WIDE:  On or about September 11, 2013 the employer had not developed or implemented a written hearing conservation program.   Three employees who are responsible for monitoring the various picking stations and conveyers were exposed to continuous noise at levels greater than 85 dBA or a dose greater than 50%.  An exposure assessment for each of these employyes was performed by conducting personal sampling on November 5, 2013 for 6.25 to 6.75 hours.  The doses measured for the employees were 71.2%, 83.9%, and 177.5% with equivalent decibels of 87.5 dBA, 88.7 dBA, and 94.1 dBA.  Dosimeters were paused for employees who left the site for lunch and thus no zero exposure is assumed.     An effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (o) shall consist of the following:  Section (c): The employer shall develop and implement a hearing conservation program.  Section (d): The employer shall develop and implement a monitoring program.  Section (e): The employer shall notify each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels of the results of the monitoring.  Section (f): The employer shall provide affected employees or their representatives with an opportunity to observe any noise measurements conducted pursuant to this section.  Section (g):  The employer shall establish an audiometric testing program.  Section (h):  The employer shall implement the audiometric testing requirements.  Section (i):   The employer shall provide hearing protectors and require use based on this section requirements.  Section (j):   The employer shall evaluate the hearing protectors attenuation.  Section (k):   The employer shall establish an employee training program.  Section (1):  The employer shall provide employee access to information and training materials.  Section (m):  The employer shall develop and maintain a recordkeeping program.  Section (n):  Appendices

Issued

Dec 23, 2013

Abate by

Feb 11, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(i)(3): Employees were not given the opportunity to select their hearing protectors from a variety of suitable hearing protectors provided by the employer:  COMPANY-WIDE:  On or about November 5, 2013, the employer had not afforded employees the opportunity to choose the type of hearing protection they wear.  Employees are provided with one type of ear plugs.

Issued

Dec 23, 2013

Abate by

Feb 11, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1030(c)(1)(i): The employer having employees with occupational exposure did not establish a written Exposure Control Plan designed to eliminate or minimize employee exposure:  COMPANY-WIDE:  On or about September 11, 2013, the employer had not established a written Exposure Control Plan.  Employees may encounter used needles while picking non-glass items from the conveyers.  In addition, employees may receive lacerations as a result of the glass that is being recycled as well as the non-glass items that are being removed from the process line.

Issued

Dec 23, 2013

Abate by

Feb 11, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i): Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:  SHOP AREA:  On or about September 11, 2013, employees were allowed to use N-95 particulate respirators on a voluntary basis without having been provided with training on the contents of Appendix D.  Employees were observed wearing N-95 respirators while working in the shop area at picking stations or other locations along the process lines to minimize exposure to dust generated during the glass recycling process.

Issued

Dec 23, 2013

Abate by

Feb 11, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): Employer had not developed or implemented a written hazard communication program included the requirements outlined in 29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1)(i) and (e)(1)(ii):  COMPANY-WIDE:  On or about September 11, 2013, the employer had not developed a written hazard communication program.  Chemicals they may come into contact with include, but are not limited to, silica, glass dust, and propane.