OSHA Inspection: MIDWEST CARPET RECYCLING, INC.

Issued

Nov 14, 2014

Penalty

Initial $400 · Current $280 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1): When information indicates that any employee's exposure may equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer shall develop and implement a monitoring program.  Midwest Carpet Recycling Inc. did not develop a noise monitoring when employees were exposed to noise levels exceeding an 8 hour time weighted average level of 85 decibels.  a) An employee working adjacent to the shredder and granulators was exposed to continuous noise levels at 171.3% of the allowable 8-hour, time-weighted average sound level (90 dBA). The equivalent dBA level of 171.3% is approximately 93.8 dBA.  The sampling was performed on October 30, 2014 for 396 minutes.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 84 minutes.  b) An employee working adjacent to the shredder and granulators was exposed to continuous noise levels at 217% of the allowable 8-hour, time-weighted average sound level (90 dBA). The equivalent dBA level of 217% is approximately 95.5 dBA.  The sampling was performed on October 30, 2014 for 397 minutes.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 83 minutes.  c) An employee working adjacent to the pelletizer and in the office was exposed to continuous noise levels at 105.8% of the allowable 8-hour, time-weighted average hearing conservation level (85 dBA). The equivalent dBA level of 105.8% is approximately 90.4 dBA.  The sampling was performed on October 30, 2014 for 396 minutes.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time, 84 minutes.  No abatement documentation or certification required for this item.

Issued

Nov 14, 2014

Abate by

Dec 11, 2014

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(6): The employer did not provide the basic advisory information on respirators, as presented in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, in written or oral format to employees who wear respirators when such use was not required by the employer:  (a) Midwest Carpet Recycling Inc. did not provide employees with the basic advisory information on respirators in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134 to employees that voluntarily wear filtering facepiece respirators (dust masks) in the work place.   In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).