OSHA Inspection: TRIGON PLASTICS COMPANY, LLC

Issued

Feb 12, 2015

Abate by

Jun 25, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,680 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1): When employees were subjected to sound exceeding those listed in Table G-16, feasible administrative or engineering controls were not utilized:    a) At Trigon Plastics Company, LLC, at the Green Eye 3 ingoing plastic sorting platform, an employee picking plastic scrap from the conveyor was exposed to continuous noise at 279.8% of permissible levels, or an equivalent sound level of 97.7 dBA as an 8 hour time weighted average during one workshift on November 13, 2014.  This exposure was determined using a 90 dB threshold dosimeter during a 422 minute sampling period during one workshift, with zero exposure being assumed for the unsampled 58 minutes of the workshift.    b) At Trigon Plastics Company, LLC, an employee working near the Bale Break controls was exposed to continuous at 154.0% of permissible levels, or an equivalent sound level of 93.2 dBA as an 8 hour time weighted average during one workshift on November 13, 2014.  This exposure was determined using a 90 dB threshold dosimeter during 450 minute sampling period during one workshift, with zero exposure being assumed for the unsampled 30 minutes of the workshift.    Exposure to continuous noise in excess of permissible levels can result in permanent hearing loss.     Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Feb 12, 2015

Abate by

Apr 1, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,680 Reduced

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:     Employees in the following areas and job locations were not included in a hearing conservation program:    a)    On 11/13/14, in the Recycle Department, an employee sorting and picking at the Green Eye 3 line, sorting at the baling line and operating a lift truck was exposed to continuous noise level of 122.7% of the permissible limit or an equivalent noise level of 91.5 dBA as an 8 hour Time Weighted Average(TWA). This exposure was determined using a noise dosimeter with an 80 dBA threshold, and from a 422 minute sample period during one work shift with zero exposure being assumed for the remaining 58 minutes of an 8 hour shift.     b)    On 11/13/14, in the Recycle Department, an employee operating the Komatsu forklift was exposed to continuous noise level of 66.7% of the permissible limit or an equivalent noise level of 87.0 dBA as an 8 hour Time Weighted Average(TWA). This exposure was determined using a noise dosimeter with an 80 dBA threshold, and from a 359 minute sample period during one work shift with zero exposure being assumed for the remaining 121 minutes of an 8 hour shift.     c)    On 11/13/14, in the Recycle Department, an employee sorting Green Eye 3 line was exposed to continuous noise level of 283% of the permissible limit or an equivalent noise level of 97.5 dBA as an 8 hour Time Weighted Average(TWA). This exposure was determined using a noise dosimeter with an 85 dBA threshold, and from a 422 minute sample period during one work shift with zero exposure being assumed for the remaining 58 minutes of an 8 hour shift.     d)    On 11/13/14, in the Recycle and Wash Department, an employee doing multiple work duties that included operating the grinder line, sorting at the baler, and operating the wash line was exposed to continuous noise level of 128.3% of the permissible limit or an equivalent noise level of 91.8 dBA as an 8 hour Time Weighted Average(TWA). This exposure was determined using a noise dosimeter with an 80 dBA threshold, and from a 420 minute sample period during one work shift with zero exposure being assumed for the remaining 60 minutes of an 8 hour shift.     e)    On 11/13/14, in the Recycle Department, the Sort Line Manager was exposed to continuous noise level of 164.8% of the permissible limit or an equivalent noise level of 93.6 dBA as an 8 hour Time Weighted Average(TWA). This exposure was determined using a noise dosimeter with an 80 dBA threshold, and from a 455 minute sample period during one work shift with zero exposure being assumed for the remaining 23 minutes of an 8 hour shift.    Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Feb 12, 2015

Abate by

Apr 1, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9135

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i): Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:  a) On 8/28/14, an employee utilizing filtering face-piece respirators in the Recycle Wash Department was not provided with the contents of Appendix D.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.