OSHA Inspection: CERAMIC TECHNICS, LLC

Issued

Nov 7, 2018

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $5,520 Reduced

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:    Ceramic Technics, LLC, Alpharetta, GA - On or about 5/17/2018, employees operating the saws while working in the wet saw area were exposed to noise between 73-91 decibels. A noise monitoring program was not implemented.

Issued

Nov 7, 2018

Abate by

Dec 28, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

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:    Ceramic Technics, LLC, Alpharetta, GA - On or about 5/17/2018, employees operating the saws while working in the wet saw area were exposed to noise between 73-91 decibels. Audiometric testing was not available to the employees.             a) An employee operating a wet saw in the production area was exposed to noise at a time-weighted average of 90.4 dBA, which exceeded the 8-hour shift action level of 85 dBA.             b) An employee operating a wet saw in the production area was exposed to noise at a time-weighted average of 89.8 dBA, which exceeded the 8-hour shift action level of 85 dBA.             c) An employee operating a wet saw in the production area was exposed to noise at a time-weighted average of 89.3 dBA, which exceeded the 8-hour shift action level of 85 dBA.             d) An employee operating a wet saw in the production area was exposed to noise at a time-weighted average of 87.4 dBA, which exceeded the 8-hour shift action level of 85 dBA.

Issued

Nov 7, 2018

Abate by

Dec 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

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):  Ceramic Technics, LLC, Alpharetta, GA - On or about 5/17/2018, employees operating the saws while working in the wet saw area were exposed to noise between 73-91 decibels. Training was not provided to employees.           a) An employee operating a wet saw in the production area was exposed to noise at a time-weighted average of 90.4 dBA, which exceeded the 8-hour shift action level of 85 dBA.           b) An employee operating a wet saw in the production area was exposed to noise at a time-weighted average of 89.8 dBA, which exceeded the 8-hour shift action level of 85 dBA.           c) An employee operating a wet saw in the production area was exposed to noise at a time-weighted average of 89.3 dBA, which exceeded the 8-hour shift action level of 85 dBA.           d) An employee operating a wet saw in the production area was exposed to noise at a time-weighted average of 87.4 dBA, which exceeded the 8-hour shift action level of 85 dBA.

Issued

Nov 7, 2018

Abate by

Dec 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $5,520 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1)(i): The employer did not select and have each affected employee use, the types of personal protective equipment that would protect the affected employee(s) from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment:    Ceramic Technics, LLC, Alpharetta, GA - On or about 5/17/2018, the employer did not assess the workplace to ensure that proper personal protective equipment was used where employees' eye, face and extremities were exposed to:    a) corrosives chemicals, such as but not limited to the grout and muriatic acid - employees only used gloves; did not wear the appropriate eye/face protection.    b) propane when changing the propane tanks for the forklifts- employees did not wear face and eye protection. Changing propane tanks also exposes employees hands to frostbite hazards and gloves are recommended.

Issued

Nov 7, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation:   Ceramic Technics, LLC, Alpharetta, GA - On or about 5/17/2018, the employer did not provide employees with the appropriate eye and face protection for use while working with:  a) corrosives chemicals, such as but not limited to muriatic acid and grout (Laticrete Permacolor Select NS, Permacolor Select) - employees only used gloves;   b) propane when changing the propane tanks of the forklifts- employees did not wear eye and face protection;  c) the saws - employees did not use eye protection at all times while using the saws.

Issued

Nov 7, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.138(a): The employer did not select and require employee(s) to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands were exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasion; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes:  Ceramic Technics, LLC, Alpharetta, GA - On or about 5/17/2018, employees did not wear hand protection while:           a) changing propane tanks of power industrial trucks (forklifts).  The employer did not provide employees with the appropriate hand protection.           b) working with the Muriatic Acid for cleaning the tiles and the grout. The employer did not provide employees with the appropriate hand protection.

Issued

Nov 7, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,497 · Current $3,340 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:     Ceramic Technics, LLC, Alpharetta, GA - On or about 5/17/2018, employees were exposed to corrosive chemicals such as but not limited to the grout and Muriatic Acid, when the employer did not have a suitable facility for quick drenching or flushing eyes an body for immediate use in the production area.

Issued

Nov 7, 2018

Abate by

Dec 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $5,520 Reduced

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:     Ceramic Technics, LLC, Alpharetta, GA - On or about 5/17/2018, employees used hazardous chemical products such as but not limited to Laticrete, Permacolor Select Color Kit, Aqua Mix Grout Color Colorant, FILAPS87 Spray, Sparks Brick and Tile Cleaner, Master Clear Silicone Adhesive Sealant- 9-1, Deterdeck Spray, Glazed Porcelain Tile, Ceramic Tile, Permacolor Select and propane. A written hazard communication program was not developed, implemented and or maintained as required by the hazard communication standard.

Issued

Nov 7, 2018

Abate by

Dec 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(6): The employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the information specified under paragraphs (f)(6)(i) through (ii) of this section:  Ceramic Technics, LLC, Alpharetta, GA - On or about 5/17/2018, employees used hazardous chemical products such as but not limited to Laticrete, Permacolor Select Color Kit, Aqua Mix Grout Color Colorant, FILAPS87 Spray, Sparks Brick and Tile Cleaner, Master Clear Silicone Adhesive Sealant- 9-1, Deterdeck Spray, Glazed Porcelain Tile, Ceramic Tile, Permacolor Select. The secondary containers such as but not limited to the ones located in the design area, the mezzanine area and in the transmittal area were not properly labeled.

Issued

Nov 7, 2018

Abate by

Dec 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8):   The employer did not maintain in the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical, and did not ensure that they were readily accessible during each work  shift to employees when they were in their work area(s)  Ceramic Technics, LLC, Alpharetta, GA - On or about 5/17/2018, employees used hazardous chemical products such as but not limited to Laticrete, Permacolor Select Color Kit, Aqua Mix Grout Color Colorant, FILAPS87 Spray, Sparks Brick and Tile Cleaner, Master Clear Silicone Adhesive Sealant- 9-1, Deterdeck Spray, Glazed Porcelain Tile, Ceramic Tile, Permacolor Select. Safety data sheets were not maintained and readily accessible, as required by the hazard communication standard.

Issued

Nov 7, 2018

Abate by

Dec 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  Ceramic Technics, LLC, Alpharetta, GA - On or about 5/17/2018, employees used hazardous chemical products such as but not limited to Laticrete, Permacolor Select Color Kit, Aqua Mix Grout Color Colorant, FILAPS87 Spray, Sparks Brick and Tile Cleaner, Master Clear Silicone Adhesive Sealant- 9-1, Deterdeck Spray, Glazed Porcelain Tile, Permacolor, Select. Information and training by the hazard communication standard was not provided.

Issued

Nov 7, 2018

Abate by

Dec 5, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(2)(i): Respirator users were not provided with the information contained in Appendix D to 29 CFR 1910.134 when the employer determined that any voluntary respirator use was permissible:  Ceramic Technics, LLC, Alpharetta, GA - On or about 5/17/2018, employees were provided respirators (N95) for voluntary use. The employer did not provide employees with the Appendix D of the OSHA standard.