OSHA Inspection: NIAGARA MONUMENT WORKS INC.

Issued

Aug 31, 2015

Abate by

Oct 3, 2015

Penalty

Initial $2,400 · Current $800 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:    a.) Facility/sandblasting booth - On or about 7/28/15, the employer, when information indicated that an employee's exposure exceeded the 8-hr time-weighted average of 85 dBA, did not develop and implement a monitoring program.  An employee, sandblasting monuments, was exposed to continuous noise at 72.5% of permissible daily noise exposure (8-hr time-weighted average of 90dBA) or an equivalent sound level of 93.2 dBA during the 222 minute sampling period; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 258 minutes not sampled.      ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Aug 31, 2015

Abate by

Oct 3, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1): When information indicated that any employee's exposure equaled or exceed the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program:  a.) Facility/Sandblasting booth - On or about 7/20/15, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program when information indicated that any employee's exposure equaled or exceed the 8-hr time-weighted average of 85 decibels during sandblasting operations.  Noise levels range between 92-97 dBA within the booth and about 89 dBA directly outside of the booth.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Aug 31, 2015

Abate by

Oct 3, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(1): The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided by 29 CFR 1910.95(g) by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:  a.) Facility/sandblasting unit - On or about 7/20/15, the employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program, as provided by 29 CFR 1910.95 (g), by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed and 8-hr. time-weighted average of 85 decibels.  Employees were exposed to noise from the sandblasting unit at an equivalent of 93.2 dBA, 8-hr time-weighted average, for the 222-minutes tested.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Aug 31, 2015

Abate by

Oct 3, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(i)(2)(ii)(A): The employer did not ensure that hearing protectors are worn by any employee who is exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels or greater and has not yet had a baseline audiogram established pursuant to 29 CFR 1910.95(g)(5)(ii):  a.) Facility/Sandblasting unit - On or about 7/28/15, the employer did not ensure that hearing protectors are worn by any employee who is exposed to an 8-hr. time-weighted average of 85 decibels or greater and has not yet had a baseline audiogram established pursuant to 29 CFR 1910.95(g)(5)(ii).  An employee, sandblasting monuments, was exposed to continuous noise at 72.5% of permissible daily noise exposure (8-hr time-weighted average of 90dBA) or an equivalent sound level of 93.2 dBA during the 222 minute sampling period; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 258 minutes not sampled.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Aug 31, 2015

Abate by

Oct 3, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(i)(4): The employer did not provide training in the use and care of all hearing protectors provided to employees:  a.) Facility/sandblasting unit - On or about 7/28/15, the employer did not provide training in the use and care of all hearing protectors provided to employees.  An employee, sandblasting monuments, was exposed to continuous noise at 72.5% of permissible daily noise exposure (8-hr time-weighted average of 90dBA) or an equivalent sound level of 93.2 dBA during the 222 minute sampling period; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 258 minutes not sampled.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Aug 31, 2015

Abate by

Oct 3, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  a.) Facility/Sandblasting unit - On or about 7/28/15, the employer did not institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the program.  An employee, sandblasting monuments, was exposed to continuous noise at 72.5% of permissible daily noise exposure (8-hr time-weighted average of 90dBA) or an equivalent sound level of 93.2 dBA during the 222 minute sampling period; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 258 minutes not sampled.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Aug 31, 2015

Abate by

Oct 3, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated, the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed, the date(s) of the hazard assessment, and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment:    a.) Facility - On or about 7/20/15, the employer has not verified that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed, the date(s) of the hazard assessment, and which identified the document as a certification of hazard assessment.  Employees are exposed to hazards from noise; silica; organic solvent vapors; contact with corrosive chemicals; sand from sandblasting; and, beads from bead blasting while preparing monuments and markers.      ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Aug 31, 2015

Abate by

Sep 10, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): Protective eye equipment was not required where there was a reasonable probability of injury that could be prevented by such equipment:  a) Facility - On or about 7/20/15, the employer does not require employees to wear safety glasses during operations in the facility, which could cause eye injuries.  Employees work with solvents, such as but not limited to Like VARSOL (xylene, ketones) and, create dust during sandblasting operations (silica-containing).    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Aug 31, 2015

Abate by

Oct 3, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:    a) Facility - On or about 7/20/15, The employer has not developed a written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134 (c) with worksite specific procedures for required respiratory protection use.   Employees wear filtering facepieces while sandblasting and bead blasting.      b.) Facility - On or about 7/20/15, The employer has not developed a written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134 (c) with worksite specific procedures for required respiratory protection use.   Employee have access to and have used half face and full face respirators during bead blasting and sandblasting.      ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Aug 31, 2015

Abate by

Oct 3, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(1)(ii): Respirators issued to more than one employee were not cleaned and disinfected before being worn by different individuals:  a.) Facility - On or about 7/28/15, the employer provides and employees have used half and full face elastomeric respirators for such work as, but not necessarily limited to, sand or bead blasting monuments.  The employer has not ensured that when respirators issued to more than one employees they were cleaned and disinfected before being worn by different individuals.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Aug 31, 2015

Abate by

Oct 3, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(2)(i): Respirators were not stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals or  were not packed or stored to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve:  a) Facility/sandblasting room - On or about 7/28/15, employees store half and full face respirators in a cabinet in the sand blasting room.  The respirators were not stored so as to protect them from damage, contamination and dust and were not packed or stored to prevent deformation of the face piece and exhalation valve.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Aug 31, 2015

Abate by

Oct 3, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k): The employer did not provide comprehensive, understandable training which did not occur annually and/or more often if necessary:  a.) Facility - On or about 7/28/15, employees are required to wear filtering face pieces when they sand or bead blast the granite monuments, and there are half and full face elastomeric respirators which can be worn by the employees, if desired.  The employer had not provided training wither initially or annually for employees required to wear respirators.  ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Aug 31, 2015

Abate by

Sep 13, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.184(d): Each day before being used, the sling and all fastenings and attachments were not being inspected for damage or defects by a competent person designated by the employer:    a) Facility - On or about 7/20/15, the sling(s) and fastenings and attachments, used with the 2-ton, overhead Meteor crane, for hoisting/lifting up to 900 pound granite monuments/slabs, were not inspected for damage or defects by a competent person designated by the employer.  Slings were observed being used with small abraded areas on the surface of the sling.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Aug 31, 2015

Abate by

Oct 3, 2015

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:    a.) Facility - On or about 7/20/15, employees use chemical such as Like VARSOL (Flammable); Coleman camping fuel (Flammable); Litho Solvent (Flammable, organic solvents); ammonium hydrogendifluoride, solid (corrosive); and, silica dust.  The employer has not developed and implemented a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria of the standard will be met.      A written Hazard Communication program should include descriptions of how the criteria will be met for:      1.) Labeling and other forms of warning;      2.) (Material) Safety Data Sheets; and,      3.) Employee information and training.    Additionally, a list of hazardous chemicals known to be present in the workplace must be compiled.  Methods used to inform employee of the hazards associated with non-routine tasks and the informing of contractors of workplace hazards must also be addressed.  The written program must be made available upon request.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Aug 31, 2015

Abate by

Oct 3, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8): The employer did not ensure that material safety data sheets were readily accessible to the employees in their work area during each work shift:  a) Facility - On or about 7/20/15, where materials such as, but not limited to Like VARSOL (Flammable); Ammonium Hydrogen difluoride - (corrosive), Litho Solvent - (flammable/organic solvent),  Coleman Camping Fuel - (Flammable), and, Silica - (Silicosis) are used by employees.  The employer did not have Safety Data Sheets for hazardous chemicals used within the facility.       ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Aug 31, 2015

Abate by

Oct 3, 2015

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:  a)  Facility - On or about 7/20/15, where materials such as, but not limited to: Like VARSOL - (Flammable), Ammonium Hydrogen difluoride - (Corrosive), Litho Solvent - (Flammable), Coleman Camping Fuel - (Flammable) and Silica-containing dust are used and/or generated, the employer did not provide effective training and information to the employees on hazardous chemicals in their work area - either at the time of their initial assignment or whenever a new hazard was introduced that the employee had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area.  Employee training shall include at least:  1. Methods and observations that may be used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area; 2. The physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area; 3. The measures employees can take to protect themselves such as specific procedures, appropriate work     practices, emergency procedures and personal protective equipment t be used; and, 4.  The details of the employers Hazard Communication Program including and explanation of labeling systems, Material Safety Data Sheets and how employees can obtain and use the appropriate hazard information.   ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED