OSHA Inspection: SIMMONS CUSTOM GRANITE LLC

Issued

2017-03-17 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3622.00 · Current $5070.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:     a.   On or about September 23, 2016 in the shop area where an employee using a skill saw to cut a slab of granite was exposed to continuous noise at 137.1% of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 92.2 dBA during the 384 minute sampling period on 09/23/2016; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 96 minutes not sampled.     b.  On or about September 23, 2016 in the shop area where an employee using an angle grinder was exposed to continuous noise at 105.1 % of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or equivalent sound level of approximately 90.3 dBA during the 389 minute sampling period on 9/23/2016; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 91 minutes not sampled.     c.  On or about September 23, 2016 in the shop area where an employee used a polisher to buff the surface of a granite countertop was exposed to continuous noise at 89.8 % of the permissible daily noise exposure (8 hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or equivalent sound level of approximately 89.2 dBA during the 364 minute sampling period on 9/23/2016; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 116  minutes not sampled.

Issued

2017-03-17 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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:          On or about September 23, 2016 in the shop area, where three employees had noise exposures exceeding an 8-hour time weighted average of 85 decibels and had not received training, nor had the employer instituted a training program.

Issued

2017-03-17 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3622.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

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:    On or about September 23, 2016 in the shop area, where three employees had noise exposures exceeding an 8-hour time weighted average of 85 decibels and the employer had not established an audiometric testing program.

Issued

2017-03-17 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2897.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(3): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee, who wore prescription lenses while engaged in operations that involved eye hazards, used protection that incorporated the prescription in its design, or wore eye protection over the prescription glasses or protective lenses with side shields.     On or about September 20, 2017 in the shop where an employee used a saw to cut granite and was exposed to a struck-by hazard when wearing prescription eyewear that did not have protective lenses or side shields on them.

Issued

2017-03-17 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3622.00 · Current $5070.00

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:     On or about September 23, 2016 in the shop area where employees were required to wear Moldex N95 filtering face piece respirators when cutting and polishing granite without the employer developing a respiratory protection program.

Issued

2017-03-17 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k): The employer did not provide comprehensive, understandable training which did not occur annually and/or more often if necessary:    On or about September 23, 2016 in the shop area where employees were required to wear Moldex N95 filtering face piece respirators when cutting and polishing granite slabs without being provided respirator training.

Issued

2017-03-17 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3622.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

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:    On or about September 23, 2016 in the shop area where employees were required to wear Moldex N95 filtering face piece respirators when cutting and grinding granite slabs without a medical evaluation.

Issued

2017-03-17 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator:    On or about September 23, 2016 in the shop area where employees were required to wear Moldex N95 filtering face piece respirators when cutting and polishing granite slabs without a respirator fit test.

Issued

2017-03-17 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-10-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5070.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(c): An employee(s) was exposed to crystalline silica in excess of the calculated 8-hour time weighted average limits of listed in Table Z-3:    a. On or about September 23, 2016 in the shop area, an employee who was grinding granite which contained 9.6% crystalline quartz, was exposed to silica at a time weighted average of 1.419 mg/m3.  This level exceeded the adjusted permissible exposure limit for silica of 0.862 mg/m3 by 1.646 times.  This exposure was derived from samples collected over a 274 minute sampling period on September 23, 2016; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 206 minutes not sampled.      b. On or about September 23, 2016 in the shop area, an employee who was grinding granite which contained 19% crystalline quartz, was exposed to silica at a time weighted average of 1.165 mg/m3.  This level exceeded the adjusted permissible exposure limit for silica of 0.476 mg/m3 by 2.447 times.  This exposure was derived from samples collected over a 372 minute sampling period on September 23, 2016; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 108 minutes not sampled.

Issued

2017-03-17 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-10-25 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):    a. On or about September 23, 2016 in the shop area, an employee who was grinding granite which contained 9.6% crystalline quartz, was exposed to silica at a time weighted average of 1.419 mg/m3.  This level exceeded the adjusted permissible exposure limit for silica of 0.862 mg/m3 by 1.646 times.  This exposure was derived from samples collected over a 274 minute sampling period on September 23, 2016; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 206 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not effectively implement engineering or administrative controls to reduce exposure levels.    b. On or about September 23, 2016 in the shop area, an employee who was grinding granite which contained 19% crystalline quartz, was exposed to silica at a time weighted average of 1.165 mg/m3.  This level exceeded the adjusted permissible exposure limit for silica of 0.476 mg/m3 by 2.447 times.  This exposure was derived from samples collected over a 372 minute sampling period on September 23, 2016; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 108 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not effectively implement engineering or administrative controls to reduce exposure levels.

Issued

2017-03-17 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3622.00 · Current $5070.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:    On or about September 20, 2016 in the shop area where employees were exposed to inhalation and chemical hazards when working with material and chemicals such as, but not limited to, epoxy paste, epoxy liquid, polyester stone adhesive, acetone and paint thinner without developing a hazard communication program.

Issued

2017-03-17 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:      On or about September 20, 2016 in the shop area where employees were exposed to inhalation and chemical hazards when working with material and chemicals such as, but not limited to, epoxy paste, epoxy liquid, polyester stone adhesive, acetone and paint thinner without being provided hazard communication training.

Issued

2017-03-17 00:00:00

Abate by

2017-05-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3622.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(1): Employers did not have a safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they use    On or about September 20, 2016 in the shop area where employees were exposed to inhalation and chemical hazards when working with material and chemicals such as, but not limited to, epoxy paste, epoxy liquid, polyester stone adhesive, acetone and paint thinner without the employer having safety data sheets for the chemicals being used.