OSHA Inspection: DEPT OF INTERIOR - FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE

Issued

Mar 14, 2014

Abate by

Apr 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

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:  a) At the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge, the employer had not implemented an effective hearing conservation program.  Wildlife specialists conducting chain saw operations were exposed to continuous noise at 158% of the permissible daily noise (8 hour time-weighted average sound level of 80 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 93 dBA during the 315 minute sampling period on 12/12/2013; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 125 minutes not sampled.  b)  At the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge, the employer had not implemented an effective hearing conservation program. Fire Management specialists conducting chain saw operations were exposed to continuous noise at 154% of the permissible daily noise (8 hour time-weighted average sound level of 80 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 93 dBA during the 305 minute sampling period on 12/12/2013; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 135 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Mar 14, 2014

Abate by

Apr 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1)(ii): Unless the employer can show that area sampling produces equivalent exposure monitoring, the employer did not use representative personal sampling to comply with the monitoring requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(d):  Representative noise monitoring was not conducted for employees operating high noise equipment as follows:  a) At the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge, Wildlife specialists conducting chain saw operations were exposed to continuous noise at 158% of the permissible daily noise (8 hour time-weighted average sound level of 80 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 93 dBA during the 315 minute sampling period on 12/12/2013; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 125 minutes not sampled.  b) At the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge, Fire Management specialists conducting chain saw operations were exposed to continuous noise at 154% of the permissible daily noise (8 hour time-weighted average sound level of 80 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 93 dBA during the 305 minute sampling period on 12/12/2013; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 135 minutes not sampled.  c) The employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program to determine the equivalent exposure levels for employees operating high noise equipment including but not limited to the DR all-terrain mower, Kawasaki trail and bursh cleaner; Kubota RTV 900XT; and Polaris Ranger Utility. The sound levels ranged from 85 - 93 dBA during equipment operations.

Issued

Mar 14, 2014

Abate by

Apr 30, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(6): At least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram, the employer did not obtain a new audiogram for each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:  Annual audiometric testing was not provided for the employees with the following exposures:  a) At the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge, Wildlife specialists conducting chain saw operations were exposed to continuous noise at 158% of the permissible daily noise (8 hour time-weighted average sound level of 80 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 93 dBA during the 315 minute sampling period on 12/12/2013; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 125 minutes not sampled.  b) At the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge, Fire Management specialists conducting chain saw operations were exposed to continuous noise at 154% of the permissible daily noise (8 hour time-weighted average sound level of 80 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 93 dBA during the 305 minute sampling period on 12/12/2013; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 135 minutes not sampled.