OSHA Inspection: THE R.C.A. RUBBER COMPANY

Issued

Apr 9, 2015

Abate by

Oct 14, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

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.  On or about March 12, 2015, a dosimeter (sn: NLI110145) was placed on an employee working in the raw sanding area for a total of 448 minutes. The employee was exposed to noise at 180.2% of the permissible daily noise exposure level, with an equivalent time-weighted average sound level of 94.2 dBA. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 32 minutes not sampled.      b.  On or about March 12, 2015, a dosimeter (sn: NLH090055) was placed on an employee working in the raw sanding area for a total of 445 minutes. The employee was exposed to noise at 145.2% of the permissible daily noise exposure level, with an equivalent time-weighted average sound level of 92.6 dBA. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 35 minutes not sampled.      Controls usually applicable in these circumstances include but are not limited to:      1. Removal of the air hose to clean off product running through the sander.       2. Lowering the air pressure of the air house used to clean off product running through the sander.      3. Separation of workers by distance or through the use of partitions.      4. Rotation of employees to quieter areas to limit their daily exposure to noise.      Step 1: Submit to the Area Director a written detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measure to control employee exposure to noise as referenced 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 citation.        1. Evaluation of engineering control options       2. Selection of optimum control method and completion of design        3. Procurement, installation, and operation of selected control measures        4. Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls        Step 2: All proposed control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. Thirty day progress reports are required during the abatement period. Abatement must be completed by 30 days.        Step 3: Abatement should be completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls. Verification must be provided, and should include noise monitoring results showing levels of noise below the permissible exposure limit. Abatement must be completed by 60 days.

Issued

Apr 9, 2015

Abate by

Jun 1, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(6): At least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram, the employer did not obtain a new audiogram for each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels :    On or about March 12, 2015, employees that are exposed to noise above 85 dBA had not received an annual audiogram.     a.  On or about March 12, 2015, a dosimeter (sn: NLI110145) was placed on an employee working in the raw sanding area for a total of 448 minutes. The employee was exposed to noise at 180.2% of the permissible daily noise exposure level, with an equivalent time-weighted average sound level of 94.2 dBA. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 32 minutes not sampled.    b.  On or about March 12, 2015, a dosimeter (sn: NLH090055) was placed on an employee working in the raw sanding area for a total of 445 minutes. The employee was exposed to noise at 145.2% of the permissible daily noise exposure level, with an equivalent time-weighted average sound level of 92.6 dBA. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 35 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Apr 9, 2015

Abate by

Jun 1, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1): The employer did not train each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k). The employer did not institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the program:    On or about March 12, 2015, employees working in areas including, but not limited to the mill area and the sanding area were exposed to noise above 85 dBA had not received training in accordance with 1910.95(k).     a.  On or about March 12, 2015, a dosimeter (sn: NLI110145) was placed on an employee working in the raw sanding area for a total of 448 minutes. The employee was exposed to noise at 180.2% of the permissible daily noise exposure level, with an equivalent time-weighted average sound level of 94.2 dBA. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 32 minutes not sampled.    b.  On or about March 12, 2015, a dosimeter (sn: NLH090055) was placed on an employee working in the raw sanding area for a total of 445 minutes. The employee was exposed to noise at 145.2% of the permissible daily noise exposure level, with an equivalent time-weighted average sound level of 92.6 dBA. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 35 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Apr 9, 2015

Abate by

Apr 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b): Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i.:     On or about March 12, 2015, compressed air that was used for cleaning in the raw sander area had a dead end pressure above 30 p.s.i.