OSHA Inspection: CREATIVE MINES LLC

Issued

Aug 29, 2016

Penalty

Initial $4,811 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(c)(3): Regardless of height, open-sided floors, walkways, platforms, or runways above or adjacent to dangerous equipment, pickling or galvanizing tanks, degreasing units, and similar hazards was not guarded with a standard railing and toe board.  a) On or about July 27, 2016 or prior thereto, Pour Area - Batch Mixing Unit:  Half of the slurry dump opening, or approximately 90 degrees of the semi-circle opening, was not guarded by a fixed guard.  The opening was adjacent to the working platform for the Mixer Operator.   The fall distance into the slurry dump was measured at 4 1/2 feet, and the opening was measured at 32 inches at it's widest point.   The guard for the opening was unused and stored on the platform for the Mixer Operator.  NOTE:  Abatement for this item was corrected during the inspection.

Issued

Aug 29, 2016

Abate by

Oct 17, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $5,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program, as described in paragraphs (c) through (o) of this section, whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (slow response) or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent.    a) On or about July 27, 2016 or prior thereto, Pour Area:  The Mixer was exposed to a nose dose of 199.2% on the 80 dBA threshold for 438 minutes, or an equivalent 8 hour time weighted average of 94.9 dBA, and the employee was not part of an effective hearing conservation program.    b) On or about July 27, 2016 or prior thereto, Pour Area:  The Pour Operator was exposed to a nose dose of 162.7% on the 80 dBA threshold for 372 minutes, or an equivalent 8 hour time weighted average of 93.5 dBA, and the employee was not part of an effective hearing conservation program.    c) On or about July 27, 2016 or prior thereto, Pour Area:  The Pour Operator was exposed to a nose dose of 98.6% on the 80 dBA threshold for 365 minutes, or an equivalent 8 hour time weighted average of 89.9 dBA, and the employee was not part of an effective hearing conservation program.    NOTE:  Abatement certification is required for this item.

Issued

Aug 29, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1): Information indicated that any employee's exposure may equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, and the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program.  a) On or about July 27, 2016 or prior thereto, Pour Area:  The Mixer was exposed to a nose dose of 199.2% on the 80 dBA threshold for 438 minutes, or an equivalent 8 hour time weighted average of 94.9 dBA, and the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program.  b) On or about July 27, 2016 or prior thereto, Pour Area:  The Pour Operator was exposed to a nose dose of 162.7% on the 80 dBA threshold for 372 minutes, or an equivalent 8 hour time weighted average of 93.5 dBA, and the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program.  c) On or about July 27, 2016 or prior thereto, Pour Area:  The Pour Operator was exposed to a nose dose of 98.6% on the 80 dBA threshold for 365 minutes, or an equivalent 8 hour time weighted average of 89.9 dBA, and the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program.  NOTE:  Abatement for this item was corrected during the inspection.

Issued

Aug 29, 2016

Abate by

Oct 17, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(1): The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided in this paragraph by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.  a) On or about July 27, 2016 or prior thereto, Pour Area:  The Mixer was exposed to a nose dose of 199.2% on the 80 dBA threshold for 438 minutes, or an equivalent 8 hour time weighted average of 94.9 dBA, and the employee was not part of an audiometric testing program  b) On or about July 27, 2016 or prior thereto, Pour Area:  The Pour Operator was exposed to a nose dose of 162.7% on the 80 dBA threshold for 372 minutes, or an equivalent 8 hour time weighted average of 93.5 dBA, and the employee was not part of an audiometric testing program  c) On or about July 27, 2016 or prior thereto, Pour Area:  The Pour Operator was exposed to a nose dose of 98.6% on the 80 dBA threshold for 365 minutes, or an equivalent 8 hour time weighted average of 89.9 dBA, and the employee was not part of an audiometric testing program.  NOTE:  Abatement certification is required for this item.

Issued

Aug 29, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; this evaluation did not include a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazard(s) and an identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form.  a) On or about July 12, 2016 or prior thereto, Sample Area:  Employees cut craft stone veneer with a MK 101 PRO-24 1.5 HP Tile Saw to make floor samples for shipping to downstream customers.   The craft stone veneer contains Crystalline Silica.  The employer had not conducted an airborne assessment for employee exposure to crystalline silica prior to July 12, 2016.   OSHA sampling for respirable dust on July 27, 2016 indicated levels were below Permissible Exposure Limits.   NOTE:  Abatement for this item was corrected during the inspection.

Issued

Aug 29, 2016

Abate by

Oct 17, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i)(A):  Each authorized employee did not receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace, and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control.  a) On or about July 27, 2016 or prior thereto, Hess Pumice / Creative Mines 28" Wet Saw:  Employees were performing energy control procedures for the Wet Saw and had not been trained in the type and magnitude of the energy feeding the saw.  b) On or about July 27, 2016 or prior thereto, Pour Area / Batch Mixer:  Employees were performing energy control procedures for the Batch Mixer and had not been trained in the type and magnitude of the energy feeding the mixer.  NOTE:  Abatement certification is required for this item.

Issued

Aug 29, 2016

Abate by

Oct 17, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(l)(6): The employer did not certify that each operator has been trained and evaluated as required by this paragraph (l). The certification did not include the name of the operator, the date of the training, the date of the evaluation, and the identity of the person(s) performing the training or evaluation.  a) On or about July 12, 2016 or prior thereto:   Employees were operating Hyundai propane powered industrial trucks, model 25C-7A, and did not have their training certified.  NOTE:  Abatement certification is required for this item.

Issued

Aug 29, 2016

Abate by

Oct 17, 2016

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): The employers did not provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new chemical hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area.   a) On or about July 12, 2016 or prior thereto, Sample Area:  Employees cut craft stone veneer with a MK 101 PRO-24 1.5 HP Tile Saw to make floor samples for shipping to downstream customers.   The craft stone veneer contains Crystalline Silica.   Employees have not been trained on the hazardous chemicals contained in the veneer.  NOTE:  Abatement certification is required for this item.