OSHA Inspection: GRANITE BY DESIGN

Issued

Aug 14, 2014

Abate by

Sep 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $720 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.243(c)(3): Safety guards used on machines know as right angle head or vertical portable grinders shall have a maximum exposure angle of 180 degrees, and the guard shall be so located so as to be between the operator and the wheel during use. Adjustment of the guard shall be such that pieces of an accidentally broken wheel will be deflected away from the operator.      (a)        Granite by Design, 801 9th St., Ft Lupton, CO 80621: On and before June 9, 2014 an employee was using a handheld grinder that was unguarded. The employees were using the grinder with an abrasive grinding stone. This condition exposes the employees to hazardous conditions associated with flying chips should the grinding stone become fractured and break apart.      Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Aug 14, 2014

Abate by

Nov 12, 2014

Penalty

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

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(c):  Employees were exposed to crystalline silica, listed in Table Z-3, in excess of the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL):    (a)   Granite by Design, 801 9th St., Ft. Lupton, CO 80621: On June 24, 2014, Granite by Design did not ensure that employee exposure to crystalline silica did not exceed the 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA). Employee A was exposed to crystalline silica at a concentration greater than the 8 hour TWA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.5 mg/m3.  The employee was exposed to crystalline silica at a concentration of 3.05 mg/m3 as an 8 hour TWA.  This is 6 times the PEL.  Air monitoring was conducted for 437 minutes. This condition exposes employees to the hazards associated with silica.  Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Aug 14, 2014

Abate by

Nov 17, 2014

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 described in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):    (a)    Granite by Design, 801 9th St., Ft. Lupton, CO 80621: On June 24, 2014, Granite by Design did not ensure that employee exposure to a substance listed in Table Z-3 did not exceed the 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) for that substance.  Employees were fabricating granite countertops.  This process generated respirable silica dust.  Employee A was exposed to crystalline silica at a concentration greater than the 8 hour TWA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.5 mg/m3.  The employee was exposed to crystalline silica at a concentration of 3.05 mg/m3 as an 8 hour TWA.  This is 6 times the PEL.  Air monitoring was conducted for 467 minutes. This condition exposes employees to the hazards associated with silica.    Abatement Note:  Feasible engineering controls include, but are not limited to:    1)                  Local exhaust ventilation; and    2)                  Ensuring the general ventilation of the area is adequate,    3)                  Increasing the general ventilation system in the area  STEP 1:           Effective respiratory protection shall be provided 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 exposure limits.                              STEP 1 ABATEMENT (30 DAYS):  September 15, 2014                        STEP 2:           Submit to the Area Director a written detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee exposures to silica. The plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which should be consistent with the dates required by this citation:    (a)    Evaluation of the extent and location of the hazard source    (b)   Evaluation of control measure options    (c)    Selection of optimum control measures    (d)   Determination of control measure design    (e)    Ordering and delivery of equipment    (f)    Installation of control measures    (g)   Training of employees in proper operation and maintenance of newly implemented control measures    (h)   Assurance of the effective performance of control measures    All proposed control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use but a competent Industrial Hygienist or other technically qualified person. Thirty (30) day progress reports are required during the abatement period. The progress report must identify the action taken to achieve abatement and the date the action was taken.     STEP 2 ABATEMENT DATE (60 DAYS): October 13, 2014       Step 3:             Abatement will be completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls and upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.    STEP 3 ABATEMENT DATE (90 DAYS): November 12, 2014    Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Aug 14, 2014

Abate by

Sep 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1):  A written respiratory protection program with worksite specific procedures, as specified in subparagraphs (c)(1)(i) through (ix) of this section, was not established and implemented where respirator(s) were required by the employer:    (a)               Granite by Design, 801 9th St., Ft. Lupton, CO 80621: On and before June 25, 2014, the employer did not ensure that a written respiratory protection program was established and implemented in the workplace when required to protect the health of the employees during granite countertop fabrication.     Abatement Note:  The written program shall include at least the following:    (1)   Procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace;    (2)   Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators;    (3)   Fit testing procedures for tight fitting respirators;    (4)   Procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations;    (5)   Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfection, storing, inspection., repairing, discarding, and otherwise maintaining respirators;    (6)   Procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow of breathing air for atmosphere-supplying respirators;    (7)   Training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situation;    (8)   Training of employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and their maintenance; and    (9)   Procedure for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program    Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Aug 14, 2014

Abate by

Sep 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii):  The employer did not evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminants chemical state and physical form:     (a)               Granite by Design, 801 9th St., Ft Lupton, CO 80621: On and before June 25, 2014, the employer did not conduct air monitoring to determine employees exposure to the air contaminants associated with the granite counter top fabrication at the job site.  This condition exposed employees to respiratory hazards.        Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is not required for this item.

Issued

Aug 14, 2014

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $720 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1):  The employer did not develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, material safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met:       (a)               Granite by Design, 801 9th St., Ft Lupton, CO 80621: The employer did not maintain at the workplace a specific written hazard communication program which describes how the specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels of warning, material safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met.     Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

Aug 14, 2014

Abate by

Sep 3, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(4)(iii): An evaluation of each powered industrial truck operators performance was not conducted at least once every 3 years.    (a)   Granite by Design, 801 9th St., Ft Lupton, CO 80621: On and before June 9, 2014, the employer did not ensure that an employee's performance was evaluated in the time specified by this standard.     Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").