OSHA Inspection: L & L DRYWALL & CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.

Issued

Mar 17, 2015

Abate by

Apr 30, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,200 · Current $1,320 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c): The employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program with required worksite-specific procedures and elements for required respirator use:    Barracks Renovation Project Bldg. #286: On or about 01/27/2015, where the employer had developed a written respiratory protection program, employees who use North 7130 N95 respirators to perform floor grinding operations were not trained on the policy, fit tested and medically cleared to don such equipment.        ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

Issued

Mar 17, 2015

Abate by

Apr 10, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,200 · Current $1,320 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(ii): The employer did not include in the employee training the physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area:  (Construction Reference: 1926.59)    On or about January 27, 2015, where the employer had provided hazard communication training, information regarding silica hazards and silicosis were not communicated to employees engaged in concrete floor grinding operations.  Silica dust is a carcinogen.      ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Mar 17, 2015

Abate by

Apr 17, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,200 · Current $1,320 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.55(a): Employee(s) were exposed to material(s) at concentrations above those specified in the Threshold Limit Values of Airborne Contaminants for 1970 of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists:     a.     On or about January 27, 2015, during a Barracks renovation project, an employee using a floor buffing machine with a diamond blade abrasive pad was exposed to respirable dust containing 20% crystalline silica (quartz) at an 8-hour TWA of 17.4391 mppcf of air.  This exceeded the calculated permissible exposure level of 10.0 mppcf by 1.74 times.  The exposure level was derived from one sample collected over 387 minute sampling period.  The remaining unsampled time of 93 minutes was entered as zero exposure.    b.     On or about January 27, 2015, during a Barracks renovation project, an employee using a floor buffing machine with a diamond blade abrasive pad was exposed to respirable dust containing 18% crystalline silica (quartz) at an 8-hour TWA of 13.6523  mppcf of air.  This exceeded the calculated permissible exposure level of 10.86 mppcf by 1.256 times.  The exposure level was derived from one sample collected over 383 minute sampling period.  The remaining unsampled time of 97 minutes was entered as zero exposure.      ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQURIED

Issued

Mar 17, 2015

Abate by

Jul 28, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.55(b): The employer did not determine and implement feasible administrative or engineering controls to  reduce employee exposure(s):  On or about January 27, 2015, during a Barracks renovation project, two employees using a floor buffing machine equipment with a diamond blade abrasive pad was exposed to respirable dust containing crystalline silica, and  feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to reduce exposure.  General methods of control applicable in these circumstances include but are not limited to the following:      (a)    Use ventilation to remove dust from breathing zone of employees while performing floor grinding operations.      (b)    Use better wet methods that introduce more water to the point of operation and general flooring area.   ABATEMENT:  Step 1:  Effective respiratory protection shall be provided and used by all employees exposed to crystalline silica.  Step 2:  Submit to the Area Director a written detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administration measures to control employee exposure to crystalline silica as referred in this citation.  This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the dates required by this section:  (1) Evaluation of engineering control options;  (2) Selection of optimum control methods and completion of design;  (3) Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures; and  (4) Testing and acceptable or modification/redesign of controls.  All proposed control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use by a competent Industrial Hygiene or other technically qualified person.  Ninety (90) day progress reports are required during the abatement period.  Step 3:  Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls upon verification of their effective in achieving compliance.