OSHA Inspection: SANDVIK MINING & CONSTRUCTION USA, LLC

Issued

Nov 20, 2015

Abate by

Mar 1, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $2,250 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9130

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.94(a)(2)(ii): The concentration of respirable dust or fume in the breathing zone of the abrasive-blasting operator or any other worker shall be kept below the levels specified in 1910.1000.    a) In the facility, on or about October 1, 2015 - The employer did not ensure that the concentration of respirable dust in the breathing zone of the abrasive-blasting operator was kept below the levels specified in 29 CFR 1910.1000.  On October 1, 2015 an employee performing abrasive-blasting operations was exposed to a respirable dust in air concentration of 27.8 milligrams per cubic meter of air calculated as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA).  The exposure level is derived from one sample collected over a 475-minute period.  Zero exposure was assumed for any unsampled time when calculating the 8-hour TWA.  The exposure was 5.6 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 5 milligrams per cubic meter of air.

Issued

Nov 20, 2015

Abate by

Dec 10, 2015

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $2,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.244(b): Abrasive blast cleaning nozzle(s) were not equipped with an operating valve which had to be held open manually:    a) In the facility, on or about October 1, 2015 - The employer did not ensure that the abrasive blast cleaning nozzle being utilized in the Blasting Area was equipped with an operating valve which had to be held open manually (dead man switch) allowing the air supply to shut off in the event the nozzle is dropped by the operator.