OSHA Inspection: PARTICLE SIZE TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Issued

May 5, 2016

Abate by

Jul 1, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $2,800

Hazardous substances 81108111

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.) Grinding Area -  Employees, who were air grinding and bagging product were exposed to noise at 111.6% of the permissible daily noise exposure limit during measurements performed for 600 minutes on April 6, 2016.  For the ten hour work shift employees would be exposed to the equivalent of an average sound level of 89.2 dBA which is 107% of the reduced action level of 83.4 dBA. The employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program to determine which employees needed to included in a hearing conservation program.     b.) Air Grinding Area - Employees, who were bagging product adjacent to the air grinder were exposed to noise at 115.3% of the permissible daily noise exposure limit during measurement performed for 593 minutes on April 6, 2016.   For the ten hour work shift employees would be exposed to the equivalent of an average sound level of 89.5 dBA which is 107% of the reduced action level of 83.4 dBA. The employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program to determine which employees need to included in a hearing conservation program.     c.) Mechanical Grinding Area - Employees, who were grinding product were exposed to noise at 115.3% of the permissible daily noise exposure limit during measurements performed for 580 minutes on April 6, 2016.   For the ten hour work shift employees would be exposed to the equivalent of an average sound level of 89.1 dBA which is 107% of the reduced action level of 83.4 dBA. The employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program to determine which employees need to included in a hearing conservation program.     Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 5, 2016

Abate by

Jul 1, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

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.) Grinding Area -  Employees, who were air grinding and bagging product were exposed to noise at 111.6% of the permissible daily noise exposure limit during measurements performed for 600 minutes on April 6, 2016.  For the ten hour work shift employees would be exposed to the equivalent of an average sound level of 89.2 dBA which is 107% of the reduced action level of 83.4 dBA. The employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program to determine which employees needed to included in a hearing conservation program.     b.) Air Grinding Area - Employees, who were bagging product adjacent to the air grinder were exposed to noise at 115.3% of the permissible daily noise exposure limit during measurement performed for 593 minutes on April 6, 2016.   For the ten hour work shift employees would be exposed to the equivalent of an average sound level of 89.5 dBA which is 107% of the reduced action level of 83.4 dBA. The employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program to determine which employees need to included in a hearing conservation program.     c.) Mechanical Grinding Area - Employees, who were grinding product were exposed to noise at 115.3% of the permissible daily noise exposure limit during measurements performed for 580 minutes on April 6, 2016.   For the ten hour work shift employees would be exposed to the equivalent of an average sound level of 89.1 dBA which is 107% of the reduced action level of 83.4 dBA. The employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program to determine which employees need to included in a hearing conservation program.     Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 5, 2016

Abate by

Jul 1, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

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.) Grinding Area -  Employees, who were air grinding and bagging product were exposed to noise at 111.6% of the permissible daily noise exposure limit during measurements performed for 600 minutes on April 6, 2016.  For the ten hour work shift employees would be exposed to the equivalent of an average sound level of 89.2 dBA which is 107% of the reduced action level of 83.4 dBA. The employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program to determine which employees needed to included in a hearing conservation program.     b.) Air Grinding Area - Employees, who were bagging product adjacent to the air grinder were exposed to noise at 115.3% of the permissible daily noise exposure limit during measurement performed for 593 minutes on April 6, 2016.   For the ten hour work shift employees would be exposed to the equivalent of an average sound level of 89.5 dBA which is 107% of the reduced action level of 83.4 dBA. The employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program to determine which employees need to included in a hearing conservation program.     c.) Mechanical Grinding Area - Employees, who were grinding product were exposed to noise at 115.3% of the permissible daily noise exposure limit during measurements performed for 580 minutes on April 6, 2016.   For the ten hour work shift employees would be exposed to the equivalent of an average sound level of 89.1 dBA which is 107% of the reduced action level of 83.4 dBA. The employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program to determine which employees need to included in a hearing conservation program.     Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.