OSHA Inspection: HBP PIPE & PRECAST LLC

Issued

Sep 3, 2015

Abate by

Oct 9, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,250 · Current $2,550 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(1): The employer did not ensure that employee(s) required to use a tight-fitting facepiece respirator passed the appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT):    The employer failed to provide fit testing to the following employees who were required to wear respirators such as, but not limited to, 3M 8511 filtering facepieces (dust masks), while being exposed to silica:    a) An employee performing tasks such as, but not limited to, grinding and/or chipping on steel/concrete piping within the Finishing Department was exposed to 13% exposure from crystalline silica (quartz) at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 0.837 mg/m3, approximately 1.23 times the limit of 0.667 mg/m3, which is established to prevent silicosis. The sample was collected on 7/15/15 during a 472 minute sampling period. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 8 minutes not sampled.     b) An employee performing tasks such as, but not limited to, grinding and/or chipping on steel/concrete piping within the Finishing Department was exposed to 10% exposure from crystalline silica (quartz) at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 3.40 mg/m3, approximately 4.08 times the limit of 0.833 mg/m3, which is established to prevent silicosis. The sample was collected on 7/15/15 during a 470 minute sampling period. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 10 minutes not sampled.    Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Sep 3, 2015

Abate by

Dec 6, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,250 · Current $2,550 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(c): Employee(s) were exposed to silica, crystalline quartz (respirable) listed in Table Z-3, in excess of 10 mg/m3 / %SiO2 + 2 as an 8 hour Time Weighted Average concentration:    On 7/15/15, the following employees performing grinding/chipping activities were exposed to silica in excess of the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) and the employer did not ensure employees were not exposed in excess of the PEL to protect employees from the hazards associated with silica:    a) An employee performing tasks such as, but not limited to, grinding and/or chipping on steel/concrete piping within the Finishing Department was exposed to 13% exposure from crystalline silica (quartz) at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 0.837 mg/m3, approximately 1.23 times the limit of 0.667 mg/m3, which is established to prevent silicosis. The sample was collected on 7/15/15 during a 472 minute sampling period. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 8 minutes not sampled.     b) An employee performing tasks such as, but not limited to, grinding and/or chipping on steel/concrete piping within the Finishing Department was exposed to 10% exposure from crystalline silica (quartz) at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 3.40 mg/m3, approximately 4.08 times the limit of 0.833 mg/m3, which is established to prevent silicosis. The sample was collected on 7/15/15 during a 470 minute sampling period. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 10 minutes not sampled.    Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).

Issued

Sep 3, 2015

Abate by

Dec 6, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9010

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):      On 7/15/15, the following employees performing grinding/chipping activities were exposed to silica in excess of the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) and the employer did not ensure engineering controls were available to protect the employees from the hazards associated with silica:    a) An employee performing tasks such as, but not limited to, grinding and/or chipping on steel/concrete piping within the Finishing Department was exposed to 13% exposure from crystalline silica (quartz) at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 0.837 mg/m3, approximately 1.23 times the limit of 0.667 mg/m3, which is established to prevent silicosis. The sample was collected on 7/15/15 during a 472 minute sampling period. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 8 minutes not sampled.     b) An employee performing tasks such as, but not limited to, grinding and/or chipping on steel/concrete piping within the Finishing Department was exposed to 10% exposure from crystalline silica (quartz) at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 3.40 mg/m3, approximately 4.08 times the limit of 0.833 mg/m3, which is established to prevent silicosis. The sample was collected on 7/15/15 during a 470 minute sampling period. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 10 minutes not sampled.    Feasible means of abatement include:    (1) Installation of local exhaust ventilation during grinding and/or chipping operations within the Finishing Department.                       Step 1:  Submit to the Area Director a written, detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee exposure to hazardous substances as referenced in this citation.  This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the abatement dates required by this citation:        1.     Evaluation of engineering/administrative control options;   2.     Selection of optimum control methods and completion of design;   3.     Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures;    4.     Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls.     All proposed control measures shall be approved for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. 60 day process reports are required during the abatement period.        Step 2:  Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering controls and/or administrative controls upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.          Date by which Step 1 must be abated:  10/05/15    Date by which Step 2 must be abated:  11/03/15     Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d).