OSHA Inspection: PI HOLDINGS, INC.

Issued

Aug 10, 2015

Abate by

Oct 15, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,400 Reduced

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 1910.9(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.    The employer did not administer a hearing conservation program for employees, who worked in the flower pot manufacturing area, and were exposed to noise that had exceeded an 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA, based on an 80 dB threshold:     (a) A machine operator employee was exposed to continuous noise levels at 78.6% of the permissible 8-hour time weighted average (TWA). The equivalent level of 78.6% is approximately 88.2 dBA. Sampling was performed for 447 minutes during one shift. Zero exposure was assumed for the 33 minutes not sampled;     (b) A machine operator was exposed to continuous noise levels at 69.8% of the permissible 8-hour time weighted average (TWA). The equivalent level of 69.8% is approximately 87.4 dBA. Sampling was performed for 444 minutes during one shift. Zero exposure was assumed for 36 minutes not sampled.