OSHA Inspection: WEST FLORIDA DISTRIBUTORS

Issued

Feb 13, 2014

Abate by

Apr 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,400 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

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. At the facility located on 4500 Carmichael Ave., Sarasota, FL, the fabricator involved in the daily activities of cutting, grinding and buffing granite material on 12/04/2013 was exposed to respirable dust containing 12% crystalline silica (quartz) at a TWA level of 1.85 mg/m3, approximately 2.6 times the OSHA-PEL of 0.714 mg/m3. The fabricator was wearing a 3M, half face respirator, with dual organic vapor and pre-filter cartridges.  No program had been established, on or about  11/19/2013.

Issued

Feb 13, 2014

Abate by

Apr 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(c): An employee(s) was exposed to silica quartz in excess of the 8-hour time weighted average limits listed for those materials in table Z-3, Subpart Z, 29 CFR 1910:   a. At the facility located on 4500 Carmichael Ave., Sarasota, FL,  the fabricator involved in the daily activities of cutting, grinding and buffing granite material on 12/04/2013 was exposed to respirable dust containing 12% crystalline silica (quartz) at a TWA level of 1.85 mg/m3, approximately 2.6 times the OSHA-PEL of 0.714 mg/m3; this limit is established to prevent silicosis. The fabricator was using portable air-operated equipment during a full day shift. The exposure level is derived from a sample collected during a 445 minute period.

Issued

Feb 13, 2014

Abate by

Aug 8, 2014

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):   a. At the facility located on 4500 Carmichael Ave., Sarasota, FL, the fabricator involved in the daily activities of cutting, grinding and buffing granite material on 12/04/2013 was exposed to respirable dust containing 12% crystalline silica (quartz) at a TWA level of 1.85 mg/m3, approximately 2.6 times the OSHA-PEL of 0.714 mg/m3; this limit is established to prevent silicosis. The fabricator was using portable air-operated equipment during a full day shift. The exposure level is derived from a sample collected during a 445 minute period.   ABATEMENT NOTES: General methods of control applicable in these circumstances include, but may not be limited to,  the following:                      1.  The use of wet methods and/or tools equipped with water spraying system.            2.  Increasing the air flow throughout the work area.            3.  Redesign bench layout to maximize dust capture and/or removal relative to workers position.            4.  Utilize a local exhaust system equipped with HEPA filters to capture dust particles      MULTI-STEP ABATEMENT PROCEDURES:      STEP 1: Due  (30 days from issue)  Effective respiratory protection shall be provided to 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 permissible exposure limits.      STEP 2: Due  (60 days from issue)  A written detailed plan of abatement shall be submitted to the Area Director outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and / or administrative measures to control employee exposures to hazardous substances as referenced in this citation. The plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the dates required by this citation:        1.      Evaluation of engineering / administrative control options;  2.      Selection of optimum control methods and completion design;  3.      Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures;  4.      Testing and acceptance or modifications / redesign of controls.        All control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. 90-days progress reports are required during the abatement period.        STEP 3:  Due  (120 days from issue)   Abatement shall have been deemed completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and / or administrative controls with verification/followup personal sampling.

Issued

Feb 13, 2014

Abate by

Apr 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,400 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

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. At the facility located on 4500 Carmichael Ave., Sarasota, FL, the fabricator involved in the daily activities of cutting, grinding and buffing granite material on 12/04/2013 was exposed to respirable dust containing 12% crystalline silica (quartz) at a TWA level of 1.85 mg/m3, approximately 2.6 times the OSHA-PEL of 0.714 mg/m3. The fabricator was wearing a 3M, half face respirator, with dual organic vapor and pre-filter cartridges. No medical evaluation had been provided, on or about 11/19/2013.

Issued

Feb 13, 2014

Abate by

Apr 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(i): Selection of appropriate respirators was not based on the respiratory hazard(s) to which the worker was exposed and user factors that affect respirator performance and reliability:     a. At the facility located on 4500 Carmichael Ave., Sarasota, FL, the fabricator involved in the daily activities of cutting, grinding and buffing granite material on 12/04/2013 was exposed to respirable dust containing 12% crystalline silica (quartz) at a TWA level of 1.85 mg/m3, approximately 2.6 times the OSHA-PEL of 0.714 mg/m3. The fabricator was wearing a 3M, half face respirator, with dual organic vapor and pre-filter cartridges. The respirator equipment was not adequate in that the organic vapor filters were not approved for silica dust, on or about 12/04/2013.

Issued

Feb 13, 2014

Abate by

Apr 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(1): The employer did not ensure that employee(s) required to use a tight-fitting facepiece respirator passed the appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT):   a. At the facility located on 4500 Carmichael Ave., Sarasota, FL, the fabricator involved in the daily activities of cutting, grinding and buffing granite material on 12/04/2013 was exposed to respirable dust containing 12% crystalline silica (quartz) at a TWA level of 1.85 mg/m3, approximately 2.6 times the OSHA-PEL of 0.714 mg/m3. The fabricator was wearing a 3M, half face respirator, with dual organic vapor and pre-filter cartridges. No fit testing had been performed, on or about 11/19/2013.

Issued

Feb 13, 2014

Abate by

Apr 2, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1)(i): The employer did not ensure that each employee could demonstrate knowledge of why the respirator was necessary and how improper fit, usage, or maintenance could compromise the protective effect of the respirator:   a. At the facility located on 4500 Carmichael Ave., Sarasota, FL, the fabricator involved in the daily activities of cutting, grinding and buffing granite material on 12/04/2013 was exposed to respirable dust containing 12% crystalline silica (quartz) at a TWA level of 1.85 mg/m3, approximately 2.6 times the OSHA-PEL of 0.714 mg/m3. The fabricator was wearing a 3M, half face respirator, with dual organic vapor and pre-filter cartridges.  The employee using the respirator was not familiar with the limitations of the respirator.