OSHA Inspection: SOUTHERN GROUTS AND MORTARS

Issued

Nov 7, 2014

Abate by

Dec 9, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,390 · Current $3,600 Reduced

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):      On or about July 15, 2014 Mixing Operator employees were exposed to a fall hazard on the North End of the production area where equipment was installed that protruded through the elevated mixing area platform.  One side of the standard railing that had been erected around the top part of the East Side Bagger equipment had been removed.  The exposed edge resulted in a fall distance of approximately 20 feet.

Issued

Nov 7, 2014

Abate by

Dec 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,390 · Current $3,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(e)(1): Standard railing(s) did not consist of top rail, intermediate rail and/or posts and/or did not have a vertical height of 42 inches (106.7 cm) nominal from upper surface of top rail to floor, platform runway, or ramp level:      On or about July 15, 2014, an employee was exposed to a fall hazard on the North End of the production area where a catwalk was installed above the mixing area platform.  One side of the catwalk, where the employee was positioned, lacked standard railing.  The employee was exposed to a fall distance of approximately 16 feet.

Issued

Nov 7, 2014

Abate by

Dec 31, 2014

Penalty

Initial $5,390 · Current $3,600 Reduced

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 1910.9(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.  The employer did not implement a hearing conservation program for employees who are exposed to noise levels exceeding the 8 hour time weighted average of 85 dBA in the area of the North End West Side Bagger.  The employee's noise dose of 76.80%, is equivalent to approximately 88.10 dBA. The sampling was performed for 480 minutes during one work shift on July 15, 2014.    B.  The employer did not implement a hearing conservation program for employees who are exposed to noise levels exceeding the 8 hour time weighted average of 85 dBA in the area of the North End East Side Bagger Flipper station.  The employee's noise dose of 78.30%, is equivalent to approximately 88.23 dBA. The sampling was performed for 466 minutes during one work shift on July 15, 2014.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time period of 14 minutes.

Issued

Nov 7, 2014

Abate by

Dec 9, 2014

Penalty

Initial $3,850 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b): Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i.:      On or about July 15, 2014, employees who operated bagger equipment on the north end of the plant used compressed air exceeding 30 p.s.i.

Issued

Nov 7, 2014

Abate by

Dec 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $9,240 · Current $6,400 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): In any workplace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer, the employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures.      On or about May 28, 2014, the employer did not establish or implement a written respiratory protection program for employees exposed to dust containing Portland cement and crystalline quartz silica.      Southern Grouts and Mortars was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 876583, citation number 1, item number 1a and was affirmed as a final order on July 1, 2013 with a final abatement date July 8, 2013, with respect to a workplace located at 3711 N. Highway 77, Waxahachie, TX 75165.

Issued

Nov 7, 2014

Abate by

Dec 17, 2014

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 employee's ability to use a respirator before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:   On or about May 28, 2014, the employer did not provide medical evaluations to determine the employee's ability to wear a respirator for employees exposed to dust containing Portland cement and crystalline quartz silica.   Southern Grouts and Mortars was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 876583, citation number 1, item number 1b and was affirmed as a final order on July 1, 2013 with a final abatement date July 8, 2013, with respect to a workplace located at 3711 N. Highway 77, Waxahachie, TX 75165.

Issued

Nov 7, 2014

Abate by

Dec 17, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator:   On or about May 28, 2014, the employer did not provide respirator fit tests for employees exposed to dusts containing Portland cement and crystalline quartz silica.   Southern Grouts and Mortars was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 876583, citation number 1, item number 1c and was affirmed as a final order on July 1, 2013 with a final abatement date July 2, 2013, with respect to a workplace located at 3711 N. Highway 77, Waxahachie, TX 75165.

Issued

Nov 7, 2014

Abate by

Dec 9, 2014

Penalty

Initial $10,780 · Current $7,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(m)(2): Employee(s) stood under or passed under the elevated portion of a powered industrial truck:    On or about May 28, 2014, an employee used a forklift to elevate Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers containing silica sand and then crouched beneath the load to untie the bottom of the sack so that the contents flowed into a pit for conveyance to storage bins.  This work practice resulted in a hazard of being struck by the lifting mechanism and/or the load it supported should one or both suddenly fall.      Southern Grouts and Mortars was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 876583, citation number 1, item number 2 and was affirmed as a final order on July 1, 2013 with a final abatement date June, 17, 2013, with respect to a workplace located at 3711 N. Highway 77, Waxahachie, TX 75165.

Issued

Nov 7, 2014

Abate by

Feb 13, 2015

Penalty

Initial $9,240 · Current $6,400 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employees were exposed to materials in excess of the 8-hour time weighted average limits listed for those materials in Table Z-1, of Subpart Z, of 29 CFR Part 1910:        A.    On or about July 15, 2014, an employee who mixed batches and then bagged the product using the Standalone Mixer #1 on the South End was exposed to Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated (Total Dust) at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) level of 44.16 milligrams per cubic meter (44.16 mg/M³), 2.94 times the permissible exposure limit of 15 mg/M³.  This limit is established to prevent respiratory irritation and cumulative lung damage.  The exposure level was derived from two samples collected for 451 minutes on July 15, 2014.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 29 minutes.      B.    On or about July 15, 2014, an employee who oriented filled bags (Bag Flipper) on the North End West Side conveyor prior to the palletizer, was exposed to Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated (Total Dust) at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) level of 19.83 milligrams per cubic meter (19.83 mg/M³), 1.32 times the permissible exposure limit of 15 mg/M³.  This limit is established to prevent respiratory irritation and cumulative lung damage.  The exposure level was derived from two samples collected for 340 minutes on July 15, 2014.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 140 minutes.     C.   On or about July 15, 2014, a bagging employee who operated the North End East Side Bagger was exposed to Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated (Total Dust) at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) level of 23.75 milligrams per cubic meter (23.75 mg/M³), 1.58 times the permissible exposure limit of 15 mg/M³.  This limit is established to prevent respiratory irritation and cumulative lung damage.  The exposure level was derived from two samples collected for 425 minutes on July 15, 2014.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 55 minutes.        Southern Grouts and Mortars was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 876583, citation number 1, item number 3a and was affirmed as a final order on July 1, 2013 with a final abatement date September 12, 2013, with respect to a workplace located at 3711 N. Highway 77, Waxahachie, TX 75165.

Issued

Nov 7, 2014

Abate by

Feb 13, 2015

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 prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):   A.    On or about July 15, 2014, an employee who mixed batches and then bagged the product using the Standalone Mixer #1 on the South End was exposed to Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated (Total Dust) at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) level of 44.16 milligrams per cubic meter (44.16 mg/M³), 2.94 times the permissible exposure limit of 15 mg/M³.  This limit is established to prevent respiratory irritation and cumulative lung damage.  The exposure level was derived from two samples collected for 451 minutes on July 15, 2014.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 29 minutes.    B.   On or about July 15, 2014, an employee who oriented filled bags (Bag Flipper on the North End West Side conveyor prior to the palletizer) was exposed to Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated (Total Dust) at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) level of 19.83 milligrams per cubic meter (19.83 mg/M³), 1.32 times the permissible exposure limit of 15 mg/M³.  This limit is established to prevent respiratory irritation and cumulative lung damage.  The exposure level was derived from two samples collected for 340 minutes on July 15, 2014.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 140 minutes.   C.  On or about July 15, 2014, a bagging employee who operated the North End East Side Bagger was exposed to Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated (Total Dust) at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) level of 23.75 milligrams per cubic meter (23.75 mg/M³), 1.58 times the permissible exposure limit of 15 mg/M³.  This limit is established to prevent respiratory irritation and cumulative lung damage.  The exposure level was derived from two samples collected for 425 minutes on July 15, 2014.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 55 minutes.   Southern Grouts and Mortars was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 876583, citation number 1, item number 3a and was affirmed as a final order on July 1, 2013 with a final abatement date September 12, 2013, with respect to a workplace located at 3711 N. Highway 77, Waxahachie, TX 75165.

Issued

Nov 7, 2014

Abate by

Dec 9, 2014

Penalty

Initial $9,240 · Current $6,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:        On or about May 28, 2014, the employer did not provide effective hazard communication information and training for employees exposed to dust containing Portland cement and crystalline silica.         Southern Grouts and Mortars was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard, which was contained in OSHA inspection number 876583, citation number 1, item number 4b and was affirmed as a final order on July 1, 2013 with a final abatement date June 21, 2013, with respect to a workplace located at 3711 N. Highway 77, Waxahachie, TX 75165.