OSHA Inspection: BABCOCK & WILCOX

Issued

Nov 30, 2015

Abate by

Mar 30, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,250 · Current $4,250

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:    For at least one (1) shot blaster, who was exposed to continuous noise at 247% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8-hour time weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or equivalent sound level of approximately 96.5 dBA during the 331 minute sampling period on September 16, 2015; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 149 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Nov 30, 2015

Abate by

Mar 30, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,400 · Current $3,400

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(c): An employee was exposed to Total Dust in excess of the 8-hour time weighted average limits of 15.00 mg/m3 listed in Table Z-3:    The employee operating the blasting equipment was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average concentration of 84.629 milligrams total dust per cubic meter of air (mg/m3) which is 5.64 times the permissible exposure limit of 15.00 mg/m3. The sampling was performed for 348 minutes during one shift on September 16, 2015. Zero exposure was assumed for the un-sampled period of time (132 minutes). Exposure to total dust causes cumulative lung disease in humans. Engineering and work practice controls can be used to reduce employee exposure.

Issued

Nov 30, 2015

Abate by

Mar 30, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 or about September 16, 2015, feasible engineering or administrative controls were not adequately implemented to keep employee exposure to air contaminants within the limits prescribed in the standard. The employee operating the blasting equipment was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average concentration of 84.629 milligrams total dust per cubic meter of air (mg/m3) which is 5.64 times the permissible exposure limit of 15.00 mg/m3. The sampling was performed for 348 minutes during one shift on September 16, 2015. Zero exposure was assumed for the un-sampled period of time (132 minutes). Exposure to total dust causes cumulative lung disease in humans. Engineering and work practice controls can be used to reduce employee exposure.