OSHA Inspection: GIRARD EQUIPMENT CO.

Issued

Oct 17, 2017

Abate by

Apr 30, 2019

Penalty

Initial $3,622 · Current $2,173 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:    On or about June 16, 2017, employees engaging in sandblasting activities were exposed to continuous noise levels at 594.3% of the permissible daily exposure (8-hour, time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA or equivalently, a dose of 100 percent), during the 377 minute sampling period. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 103 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Oct 17, 2017

Abate by

Apr 30, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:    The employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program for employees exposed to 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) sound levels of 85 dBA or greater (50%).    a. On or about August 3, 2017, an employee performing sandblasting was exposed to continuous noise levels at 127.8% of the permissible daily exposure (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 dBA or equivalently, a dose of 50 percent), during the 220 minute sampling period. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 260 minutes not sampled. The employer had not developed or implemented a monitoring program to asses employee noise level exposures in the area.    b. On or about September 27, 2017, an employee performing sandblasting was exposed to continuous noise levels at 597.7% of the permissible daily exposure (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 dBA or equivalently, a dose of 50 percent), during the 377 minute sampling period. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 103 minutes not sampled. The employer had not developed or implemented a monitoring program to asses employee noise level exposures in the area.

Issued

Oct 17, 2017

Abate by

Dec 15, 2017

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 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:    The employer did not maintain an audiometric testing program for employees exposed to 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) sound levels of 85 dBA or greater (50%).    a. On or about August 3, 2017, an employee conducting sandblasting activities was exposed to continuous noise levels at 127.8% of the permissible daily exposure (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 dBA or equivalently, a dose of 50 percent), during the 220 minute sampling period. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 260 minutes not sampled. No audiogram was documented for this employee.    b. On or about September 27, 2017, an employee conducting sandblasting activities was exposed to continuous noise levels at 597.7% of the permissible daily exposure (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 dBA or equivalently, a dose of 50 percent), during the 377 minute sampling period. Exposure calculations include a zero increment for the 103 minutes not sampled. No audiogram was documented for this employee.

Issued

Oct 17, 2017

Abate by

Apr 30, 2019

Penalty

Initial $2,897 · Current $1,638 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(a)(2): Employee(s) were exposed to an airborne concentration of particulates not otherwise regulated (respirable dust) listed in Table Z-1 in excess of the 8 hour Time Weighted Average concentration of 5 mg/m3:    On or about June 16, 2017, employees performing sandblasting were exposed to respirable dust at an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA) of 675.8 mg/m3 during the 213 minute sampling period. This is 135.16 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 5 mg/m3. Exposure calculations include a zero exposure increment for the 267 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Oct 17, 2017

Abate by

Apr 30, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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):    On or about June 16, 2017, employees completing sandblasting activities were exposed to respirable dust at an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average (TWA) of 675.8 mg/m3 during the 213 minute sampling period. This is 135.16 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 5 mg/m3. Exposure calculations include a zero exposure increment for the 267 minutes not sampled. Engineering controls were not utilized to lower exposure levels. Engineering controls were not utilized to lower exposure levels.    Controls usually applicable in these circumstances include but are not limited to:    1. Installing a downdraft exhaust system in the abrasive blasting bay with appropriate dust collection system.    2. Installing a cross ventilation system in the abrasive blasting bay with appropriate dust collection system.    3. Administratively rotate employees to insure that exposures are below the allowable exposure limits for all air contaminants involved.    Step 1: Submit to the Area Director a written detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measure to control employee exposure to air contaminants as referenced in this citation. This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the dates required by this citation:    1. Evaluation of engineering control options    2. Selection of optimum control method and completion of design    3. Procurement, installation, and operation of selected control measures    4. Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls    Step 2: All proposed control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. Proposed control measures selected should be appropriate to the type of material present. Thirty day progress reports are required during the abatement period. Abatement must be completed by 30 days.    Step 3: Abatement should be completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls including verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance. Abatement must be completed by 60 days.

Issued

Oct 17, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify, through a written certification, that the required workplace hazard assessment had been performed:  On or about June 16, 2017, the employer failed to certify in writing that the required workiplace hazard assessment had been performed. The assessment was signed on October 4, 2017.