OSHA Inspection: TWO RIVERS TIMBER COMPANY INC.

Issued

Mar 30, 2016

Abate by

May 4, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,100 Reduced

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:    a)  At the sawmill main floor, on or about 2/24/2013: An employee working as an edger was exposed to continuous noise at a sound level of 298 % of the dose of the permissible exposure limit (PEL). The equivalent dBA is approximately 98.2 dBA calculated as the 8 hour time weighted sound pressure level. Sampling was conducted for 459 minutes. A zero increment was included for the remaining 21 minutes of the workday.   No administrative or engineering controls were utilized.     Abatement documentation must be submitted for this citation.

Issued

Mar 30, 2016

Abate by

May 4, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1):  A continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (n) was not instituted when employee noise exposures equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) sound level of 85 dBA:  a)  At the sawmill, on or about 2/24/2013:  An employee working as a trim saw operator was exposed to continuous noise at a sound level of approximately 91.3 dBA (8 hour time weighted average) during the 455 minute sampling period on 2/24/2016.  Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 25 minutes not sampled.  b)  At the sawmill, on or about 2/24/2013:  An employee working as a debarker operator was exposed to continuous noise at a sound level of approximately 90.4 dBA (8 hour time weighted average) during the 464 minute sampling period on 2/24/2016.  Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 16 minutes not sampled.   Abatement documentation must be submitted for this citation.  An effective hearing conservation program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (n) shall include, at a minimum:       (1) Initial monitoring to determine if employee exposure to noise exceeds the 85 dBA 8 hour TWA action level.      (2) A baseline audiogram for all employees exposed to noise levels equal to or in excess of the 85 dBA 8 hour TWA.      (3) Annual audiograms for each overexposed employee.      (4) Analysis of audiogram results with retesting an/or referral to an otolaryngologist or qualified physician when a significant threshold shift occurs.  A significant shift will be considered to be equal to or greater than an average of 10 dBA over the 2000, 3000, and 4000 hertz frequencies.   (5) Where insert ear plugs or custom-molded devices are utilized, individual employee fitting shall be conducted by a trained person, and employees shall be instructed in the care and use of the devices.