OSHA Inspection: F&M SURFACES, INC.

Issued

May 24, 2017

Abate by

Aug 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,078 · Current $1,539 Reduced

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)  In the Fabrication Shop - On or about January 31, 2017, an employee, fabricating stone product display panels, was exposed to a noise level of 60.9%, or an equivalent dBA (decibels 'A' scale) of 86.4 dBA, which was capable of causing hearing loss.  The sample was performed for 183 minutes during one work shift, on January 31, 2017.  The employer had not established nor implemented an effective hearing conservation program.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time period of 297 minutes, which included concrete mixing activities.    b)  In the Fabrication Shop - On or about January 31, 2017, an employee, fabricating stone product display panels, was exposed to a noise level of 54.9%, or an equivalent dBA (decibels 'A' scale) of 85.7 dBA, which was capable of causing hearing loss.  The sample was performed for 122 minutes during one work shift, on January 31, 2017.  The employer had not established nor implemented an effective hearing conservation program.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time period of 358 minutes, which included warehousing activities.    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 employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 24, 2017

Abate by

Aug 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

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)  In the Fabrication Shop - On or about January 31, 2017, an employee, fabricating stone product display panels, was exposed to a noise level of 60.9%, or an equivalent dBA (decibels 'A' scale) of 86.4 dBA, which was capable of causing hearing loss.  The sample was performed for 183 minutes during one work shift, on January 31, 2017.  The employer had not established nor implemented a noise exposure monitoring program.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time period of 297 minutes, which included concrete mixing activities.    b)  In the Fabrication Shop - On or about January 31, 2017, an employee, fabricating stone product display panels, was exposed to a noise level of 54.9%, or an equivalent dBA (decibels 'A' scale) of 85.7 dBA, which was capable of causing hearing loss.  The sample was performed for 122 minutes during one work shift, on January 31, 2017.  The employer had not established nor implemented a noise exposure monitoring program.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time period of 358 minutes, which included warehousing activities.    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 employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 24, 2017

Abate by

Aug 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,694 · Current $3,694

Hazardous substances 05600577180390109130

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:      a)  In the Fabrication Shop - On or about January 31, 2017, the employer had not developed or implemented a written hazard communication program which described how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f) Labels, (g) Safety Data Sheets, and (h) Training was to be met for employees using chemicals such as but not limited to Liquid Propane, Kerosene, Carbon Monoxide, Portland Cement, Respirable Dust, and Respirable Crystalline Silica at the time of their assignment to the workshop, fabricating stone product display panels.     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 employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 24, 2017

Abate by

Aug 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 05600577180390109130

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(7): In lieu of affixing labels to individual stationary process containers, the employer did not ensure the written materials such as signs, placards, process sheets, batch tickets, or operating procedures, containing the information required by paragraph (f)(6) of this section to be on a label, were readily accessible to the employees in their work area throughout each work shift:    a)  In the Fabrication Shop - On or about January 31, 2017, the employer had not used signs, placards, process sheets, batch tickets, operating procedures, or other written material, in the workshop where the decorative stone was processed, that identified the appropriate hazard warnings, including but not limited to words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof in order to provide employees with specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical, chiefly the respirable crystalline silica and quartz content.    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 employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 24, 2017

Abate by

Aug 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 05600577180390109130

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    a)  In the Fabrication Shop - On or about January 31, 2017, the employer had not maintained at the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets for the hazardous chemicals, including but not limited to Kerosene, Liquid Propane, Portland Cement, and the decorative stone (containing respirable crystalline silica) and had not ensured that they were readily accessible during each workshift.       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 employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 24, 2017

Abate by

Aug 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 05600577180390109130

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:    a)  In the Fabrication Shop - On or about January 31, 2017, the employer had not provided employees with effective information and training on the chemical-specific health and physical hazards associated with but not limited to Liquid Propane, Kerosene, Carbon Monoxide, Portland Cement, Respirable Dust, and Respirable Crystalline Silica at the time of their assignment to the workshop, fabricating stone product display panels.      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 employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

May 24, 2017

Abate by

Aug 1, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 05600577180390109130

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(6): The employer did not provide the basic advisory information on respirators, as presented in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, in written or oral format to employees who wear respirators when such use was not required by the employer:      a)  In the Fabrication Shop - On or about January 31, 2017, employees, fabricating stone product display panels, were voluntarily using NIOSH-approved 3M 8210 Plus N95 2-strap dust masks as respiratory protection against respirable dust (silica and nuisance) without being trained on the contents of 29 CFR Part 1910.134 Appendix D.       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 employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.