OSHA Inspection: SOUSA, INC.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

May 11, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,600 · Current $1,600

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: (Construction Reference 1926.103):  When employees wore respiratory protection to protect against the health effects of silica-contaminated dust, the employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program that included the following elements:  (i): Procedures for selecting respirators for use in the workplace; (ii): Medical evaluations of employees required to use respirators; (iii): Fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators; (iv): Procedures for proper use of respirators in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations; (v): Procedures and schedules for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, discarding, and otherwise maintaining respirators; (vi): Procedures to ensure adequate air quality, quantity, and flow of breathing air for atmosphere-supplying respirators; (vii): Training of employees in the respiratory hazards to which they are potentially exposed during routine and emergency situations; (viii): Training of employees in the proper use of respirators, including putting on and removing them, any limitations on their use, and their maintenance; and (ix): Procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the program.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

May 11, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace: (Construction Reference 1926.103)(a):  Worksite: When employees were required to use respirators during silica-grinding operations, the employer did not ensure that the employees received a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use the respirator.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

May 11, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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): (Construction Reference 1926.103)  Worksite: When employees were required to use respirators to prevent inhalation of silica-containing dusts, the employer did not ensure that the users pass an appropriate qualitative fit test or quantitative fit test as required.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

May 11, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A): Respirators with tight-fitting facepieces were worn by employees who had facial hair that came between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interfered with valve function: (Construction Reference 1926.103):    Worksite: When employees were required to wear respirators as protection against silica-containing dusts, the employer allowed the users to wear the respirators with facial hair.  This facial hair came between the face-to-facepiece seal and interfered with the protection function of the respirator.

Issued

Mar 28, 2016

Abate by

May 11, 2016

Penalty

Initial $1,200 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2): The employer did not instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe condition(s) and the regulation(s) applicable to his work environment to control or eliminate any hazard(s) or other exposure to illness or injury:    Worksite: When employees were exposed to silica-containing dusts during mortar-grinding operations, the employer did not instruct employees to recognize the danger of exposure nor train the employees to control or eliminate the hazards.  Such control or elimination would include, but not be limited to, the use of wet methods to control the generation of silica dusts, tools engineered with dust collection systems, and appropriate respiratory protection.