OSHA Inspection: STANDARD CERAMIC SUPPLY COMPANY

Issued

Oct 30, 2014

Abate by

Mar 6, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $1,400 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9130

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(c):   Employees were exposed to respirable dust in excess of the 8-hour time weighted average limit of 5 mg/m3 as listed in Table Z-3:    a)  In the Mixing Area, on or about June 18, 2014 - An employee designated as a blender was exposed to respirable dust at a time weighted average exposure of 7.3 mg/m3.  This level is 1.5 times the permissible exposure limit of 5 mg/m3 as a time weighted average concentration.  Sampling was performed by an OSHA compliance officer on June 18, 2014 for 469 minutes and zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled portion of the shift.      b)  In the Mixing Area, on or about June 18, 2014 - An employee designated as a blender was exposed to respirable dust at a time weighted average exposure of 12.6 mg/m3.  This level is 2.5 times the permissible exposure limit of 5 mg/m3 as a time weighted average concentration.  Sampling was performed by an OSHA compliance officer on June 18, 2014 for 465 minutes and zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled portion of the shift.      c)  In the Mixing Area, on or about June 18, 2014 - An employee designated as a blender was exposed to respirable dust at a time weighted average exposure of 7.9 mg/m3.  This level is 1.6 times the permissible exposure limit of 5 mg/m3 as a time weighted average concentration.  Sampling was performed by an OSHA compliance officer on September 4, 2014 for 421 minutes and zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled portion of the shift.      d)  In the Mixing Area, on or about June 18, 2014 - An employee designated as a blender was exposed to respirable dust at a time weighted average exposure of 9.1 mg/m3.  This level is 1.8 times the permissible exposure limit of 5 mg/m3 as a time weighted average concentration.  Sampling was performed by an OSHA compliance officer on September 4, 2014 for 437 minutes and zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled portion of the shift.

Issued

Oct 30, 2014

Abate by

Mar 6, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9130

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)  In the Mixing Area, on or about June 18, 2014 and September 4, 2014 - The employer did not implement feasible administrative or engineering controls when employees were exposed to respirable dust above the permissible exposure limit.  (See description of employee exposures in Citation 1, Item 1a, Instances a-d).    Feasible engineering and administrative controls would include but not be limited to:    1.  Maintain the existing mechanical ventilation system in use at the Mix Area;    2.  Utilize a lift table for the disposal of used bags and then dump the used bags into the dumpster from the lift table to minimize employee handling of the bags;    3.  Use a water suppression system to keep dust levels at a minimum;    4.  Instruct employees how to handle used bags with minimal stirring of settled dust.

Issued

Oct 30, 2014

Abate by

Dec 4, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(6): The basic advisory information on respirators, as presented in Appendix D of this section, was not provided by the employer in any written or oral format, to employees who wear respirators when such use is not required by this section or by the employer:  a)  In the Facility, on or about May 30, 2014 - The employer did not provide the basic advisory information on respirators to employees who wore dust masks voluntarily.