OSHA Inspection: NATURAL GALLERY GRANITE DIRECT INC.

Issued

May 5, 2015

Abate by

Jun 22, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $1,440 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 1910.95(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.      On January 8, 2015, at the fabrication shop, an employee cutting and polishing granite countertops, was exposed to a noise dose of 87.4%, or an equivalent dBA (decibels A scale) of 89.03 dBA, which is capable of causing permanent hearing loss. The noise sampling was conducted for 388 minutes during one work shift.     The employer did not administer an effective hearing conservation program in that employees were not provided the required initial monitoring program, baseline or annual audiograms, and hearing protection training that included an explanation of audiometric testing, instructions on the fitting, use, and care of the various hearing protectors.

Issued

May 5, 2015

Abate by

Jun 1, 2015

Penalty

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

Hazardous substances 90109013

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(c): An employee(s) was exposed to silica in excess of the 8-hour time weighted average limits of 10 mg/m3/(%SiO2+5) listed in Table Z-3:  a.      On January 08, 2015, at the fabrication shop, an employee cutting and polishing granite or stone countertops was exposed to airborne silica concentration of 1.1 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) which exceeded the OSHA Permissible Exposure Level (PEL) of 0.552 mg/m3 by approximately 1.97 times. The air sampling was performed for 374 minutes during one work-shift.

Issued

May 5, 2015

Abate by

Jun 1, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 90109013

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 January 08, 2015, at the fabrication shop, an employee cutting granite or stone countertops was exposed to airborne silica concentration of 1.1 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3) which exceeded the OSHA Permissible Exposure Level (PEL) of 0.552 mg/m3 by approximately 1.97 times. The air sampling was performed for 374 minutes during one work-shift.  The employer did not implement effective engineering controls to reduce the employee's exposure to silica below the OSHA PEL.

Issued

May 5, 2015

Abate by

Jun 22, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 90109013

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:  a.       On or about January 8, 2015, at the fabrication shop, employees were required to wear 3M N95 respirators or Gerson 6200 half face negative pressure respirators while cutting and polishing granite countertops and the employer had not established a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures:   1. The employer did not have procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace;  2. The employer did not provide medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator; 3. The employer did not provide fit testing; 4. The employer did not provide procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing and maintaining respirators;      5. The employer did not provide training on the proper use, seal inspection, storage and limitations for respirators being used.

Issued

May 5, 2015

Abate by

Jun 22, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 90109013

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(i): Selection of appropriate respirators was not based on the respiratory hazard(s) to which the worker was exposed and user factors that affect respirator performance and reliability:  a.       On or about January 8, 2015, at the fabrication shop, employees were required to wear Gerson 6200 half face negative pressure respirators with Gerson 8101, 8201, 8301 cartridges while cutting and polishing granite countertops and the employer did not select and provide an appropriate respirators for use based on the respiratory silica hazard to which employees were exposed.

Issued

May 5, 2015

Abate by

Jun 1, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $1,440 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.243(c)(1): Abrasive wheel(s) were used on portable grinder(s) which were not provided with safety guard(s) meeting the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.243(c)(1) through (c)(4):  a.      On or about January 8, 2015, at the fabrication shop, fabricators used a hand held Makita grinder with a diamond disk 5 inch diameter to cut granite and stones for countertops and the grinder did not have a safety guard, exposing employees to laceration hazards.

Issued

May 5, 2015

Abate by

Jun 1, 2015

Penalty

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

Hazardous substances 0040215090109013

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:  a.      On or about January 08, 2015, at the fabrication shop, employees were potentially exposed to respirable silica dust and used hazardous chemicals such as, but not limited to, acetone, wax, and propane, and the employer had not developed nor implemented a written hazard communication program.

Issued

May 5, 2015

Abate by

Jun 1, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0040200021509010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8): The employer did not ensure that material safety data sheets were readily accessible to the employees in their work area during each work shift:  a.      On or about January 08, 2015, at the fabrication shop, employees were potentially exposed to respirable silica dust and used hazardous chemicals such as but not limited to acetone, wax, and propane, and the employer did not make safety data sheets available to employees.

Issued

May 5, 2015

Abate by

Jun 1, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 00402150

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:  a.      On or about January 08, 2015, at the fabrication shop, an fabricator using chemicals such as but not limited to acetone, wax, and propane, had not been provided with training on the health and physical hazards associated with these chemicals.

Issued

May 5, 2015

Abate by

Jun 1, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 004021509010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(iv):   The details of the hazard communication program developed by the employer, did not include an explanation of the labels received on shipped containers and the workplace labeling system used by their employer; the safety data sheet, including the order of information and how employee could obtain and use the appropriate hazard information:  a.      On or about January 08, 2015, the employer did not provide the information and training on the new label elements and the new Safety Data Sheet format to employees who had exposure to hazardous materials such as but not limited to silica, acetone, wax, and propane.

Issued

May 5, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:  a.      On or about January 08, 2015, at the fabrication shop, the employer was using two temporary flexible electrical cords which had been individually, permanently plugged into a wall outlet. The two flexible electrical cords were used to energize two industrial fans and used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure, exposing employees to electrical hazard.

Issued

May 5, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii): Flexible cords and cables were not connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief was provided that would prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws:  a.      On or about January 08, 2015, at the fabrication shop, flexible power cords used to power an industrial fan did not have strain relief, exposing employees to electrical hazard.