OSHA Inspection: AUSTIN CONSTRUCTORS, LLC

Issued

Jun 23, 2015

Abate by

Jun 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,700 Reduced

Hazardous substances S103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(a)(1): Atmospheric contamination was not prevented through the use of engineering controls, such as, but not limited to enclosure or confinement of the operation, general and local ventilation, or substitution of less toxic materials: (Construction reference 1926.103)      At the inspection site, on or about March 30, the employer did not ensure that appropriate work practices, such as wet methods were used when sawing and jackhammering concrete containing 20% silica, exposing employees to the inhalation hazards of silica-containing materials.

Issued

Jun 23, 2015

Abate by

Jul 1, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances S103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(4): The employer did not make the written hazard communication program available upon request to the employees or their designated representatives in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1020(e): [Construction Reference: 1926.59(a)]    At the inspection site, on or about March 30, employees were sawing and jackhammering concrete containing 20% silica, the employer did not make the written hazard communication program available to OSHA in response to a written request by electronic mail to a management representative on March 31, 2015.

Issued

Jun 23, 2015

Abate by

Jun 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances S103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(iii): Employee training did not include the measures employees can take to protect themselves from chemical hazards, including specific procedures the employer had implemented to protect employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as appropriate work practices, emergency procedures and personal protective equipment to be used: (Construction Reference: 1926.59)  At the inspection site, on or about March 30, the employer did not ensure that appropriate work practices, such as wet methods were used when sawing and jackhammering concrete containing 20% silica, and did not ensure respiratory protection was used, exposing employees to the inhalation hazards of silica-containing materials.

Issued

Jun 23, 2015

Abate by

Jun 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $2,700 Reduced

Hazardous substances S103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(i): The employer did not select and provide an appropriate respirator based on the respiratory hazard(s) to which the worker is exposed and workplace and user factors that affect respirator performance and reliability: (Construction Reference 1926.103)    At the inspection site, on or about March 30, the employer did not provide and ensure use of respiratory protection when employees were sawing and jackhammering concrete containing 20% silica, exposing employees to the inhalation hazards of silica-containing materials.

Issued

Jun 23, 2015

Abate by

Jun 29, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances S103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form: (Construction Reference 1926.103)  At the inspection site, on or about March 30, the employer did not provide an assessment of the levels of respirable silica dust when employees were sawing and jackhammering concrete containing 20% silica without use of respiratory protection, exposing employees to the inhalation hazards of silica-containing materials.

Issued

Jun 23, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,600 · Current $3,600

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.95(a): Personal protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, was not provided, used, or maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition when it was necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation, or physical contact:  On or about March 30, 2015, at the site, where employees were exposed to vehicular traffic while removing sidewalk sections, an employee was in the street without a high visibility vest.

Issued

Jun 23, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108130

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.101(a): Ear protective devices were not provided and/or were not used when it was not feasible to reduce noise levels or duration of exposures to those specified in Table D-2, Permissible Noise Exposure, in 29 CFR 1926.52:  At the inspection site, on or about March 30, 2015, employees were not using appropriate hearing protection while working in proximity to and/or while performing such operations as sawing concrete curbs with a Quickie saw and breaking up concrete using a jackhammer attachment on a Bobcat skid steer loader, exposing employees to the hazards of noise up to 112 decibels (dBA).

Issued

Jun 23, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.102(a)(1): Eye and face protective equipment were not used when machines or operations presented potential eye or face injury from physical, chemical, or radiation agents:  At the inspection site, on or about March 30, 2015, employees were not using appropriate eye protection for such operations as breaking up concrete using a jackhammer attachment while operating a Bobcat skid steer loader, and using a hammer to strike nails, exposing employees to the hazards of being struck by flying materials.