OSHA Inspection: MAL-BER MANUFACTURING COMPANY

Issued

Sep 28, 2018

Abate by

Feb 1, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,691 · Current $3,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

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 controls were not utilized:     a) Mal-Ber Manufacturing - On or about July 27, 2018, an employee operating a 100 Ton Bliss Press (model #S21006036),  was exposed to a continuous noise at 194.1% of the permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an 8 hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 94.7 dBA.  This exposure occurred over a 448 minute sampling period.  A zero exposure was assumed for the 32 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not implement feasible administrative controls.       Step 1:  SUBMIT TO THE AREA DIRECTOR A WRITTEN, DETAILED PLAN OF ABATEMENT OUTLINING A SCHEDULE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ENGINEERING AND/OR ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES TO CONTROL EMPLOYEE EXPOSURE TO HAZARDOUS NOISE LEVELs AS REFERENCED IN THIS CITATION.  THIS PLAN SHALL INCLUDE, AT A MINIMUM, TARGET DATES FOR THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS WHICH MUST BE CONSISTANT WITH THE ABATEMENT DATES REQUIRED BY THIS CITATION:      (1)    EVALUATION OF ENGINEERING/ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL OPTIONS;      (2)     SELECTION OF OPTIUM CONTROL METHODS AND COMPLETION OF DESIGN;      (3)    PROCUREMENT, INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF SELECTED CONTROL MEASURES; AND       (4)    TESTING AND ACCEPTANCE OR MODIFICATION/REDESIGN OF CONTROLS.      NINETY- (90) DAY PROGRESS REPORTS ARE REQUIRED DURING THE ABATEMENT PERIOD.  (THE 90 DAY REQUIREMENT CAN BE SHORTENED OR LENGTHENED BY THE AREA DIRECTOR DEPENDING ON THE SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES.)      Step 2:  ABATEMENT SHALL HAVE BEEN COMPLETED BY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FEASIBLE ENGINEERING AND/OR ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS UPON THE VERIFICATION OF THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN ACHIEVING COMPLIANCE.      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 that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Sep 28, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,691 · Current $3,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(6): At least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram, the employer did not obtain a new audiogram for each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels :     a)  Mal-Ber Manufacturing - On or about July 27, 2018, an employee operating a 100 Ton Bliss Press (model #S21006036), was exposed to a continuous noise at 194.1% of the permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an 8 hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 94.7 dBA.  This exposure occurred over a 448 minute sampling period.  A zero exposure was assumed for the 32 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not conduct an annual audiogram within 365 days since the employee's last audiogram.      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 that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Sep 28, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(7)(i): Each employee's annual audiogram was not compared to that employee's baseline audiogram to determine if the audiogram is valid and if a standard threshold shift as defined in 29 CFR 1910.95(g)(10) has occurred:  a)  Mal-Ber Manufacturing - On or about July 27, 2018, an employee operating a 100 Ton Bliss Press (model #S21006036), was exposed to a continuous noise at 194.1% of the permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an 8 hour time weighted average (TWA) noise exposure of 94.7 dBA.  This exposure occurred over a 448 minute sampling period.  A zero exposure was assumed for the 32 minutes not sampled.  The employer did not have an employee's annual audiogram compared to their baseline audiogram to determine the validity of the audiogram and to assess if there had been a standard threshold shift, on or about June 29, 2018.  No abatement documentation required.  Employer provided abatement documentation and had comparison performed by audiologist on July 19, 2018.