OSHA Inspection: TULIP CORPORATION

Issued

Sep 27, 2018

Abate by

Jan 28, 2019

Penalty

Initial $11,086 · Current $8,315 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1): Employees were subjected to sound level exceeding those listed in Table G-16 of Subpart G of 29 CFR 1910 and feasible administrative or engineering controls were not utilized to reduce sound levels:    TABLE G-16 - PERMISSIBLE NOISE EXPOSURES (1)  ____________________________________________    Duration per day, hours     Sound level dBA slow response  ____________________________________________  8...........................                     90  6...........................                     92  4...........................                     95  3...........................                     97  2...........................                    100  1 1/2 ....................                    102  1...........................                    105  1/2 .......................                    110  1/4  or less.............                     115    a) Extrusion Area- On or about 08/20/2018 operators were exposed to continuous noise at approximately 153.3% of the permissible daily noise level (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 93.1 dBA during the 382 minutes sampling period on August 20, 2018; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 98 minutes not sampled.  Neither administrative nor engineering controls were applied by the employer to reduce employee exposure below the permissible exposure limit.    b) Screw Area- On or about 08/20/2018, operators were exposed to continuous noise at approximately 158.4% of the permissible daily noise level (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 93.3 dBA during the 480 minutes sampling period on August 20, 2018; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 0 minutes not sampled.  Neither administrative nor engineering controls were applied by the employer to reduce employee exposure below the permissible exposure limit.    c) Material Handling Area- On or about 08/20/2018, operators were exposed to continuous noise at approximately 184.3% of the permissible daily noise level (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 94.4 dBA during the 434 minutes sampling period on August 20, 2018; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 46 minutes not sampled.  Neither administrative nor engineering controls were applied by the employer to reduce employee exposure below the permissible exposure limit.    d) Grinding Area- On or about 08/20/2018, operators were exposed to continuous noise at approximately 311.0% of the permissible daily noise level (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA) or an equivalent sound level of approximately 98.2 dBA during the 304 minutes sampling period on August 20, 2018; exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 176 minutes not sampled.  Neither administrative nor engineering controls were applied by the employer to reduce employee exposure below the permissible exposure limit.    ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

Issued

Sep 27, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(i)(2)(i): The employer did not ensure that hearing protectors are worn by an employee who is required by 29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1) to wear personal protective equipment:  a) Extrusion Area- On or about 08/20/2018 and ongoing, employees were exposed to continuous noise level at 153.3% of the permissible daily noise level (8 hour time-weighed average sound level of 80 dBA) or equivalent time-weighted of approximately 93.1 dBA using the 80 dBA threshold level.  The employer did not ensure that hearing protectors are worn by an employee who is required by 29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1).  b) Screw Area- On or about 08/20/2018 and ongoing, employees were exposed to continuous noise level at 158.4% of the permissible daily noise level (8 hour time-weighed average sound level of 80 dBA) or equivalent time-weighted of approximately 93.3 dBA using the 80 dBA threshold level.  The employer did not ensure that hearing protectors are worn by an employee who is required by 29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1).  c) Material Handling Area- On or about 08/20/2018 and ongoing, employees were exposed to continuous noise level at 184.3% of the permissible daily noise level (8 hour time-weighed average sound level of 80 dBA) or equivalent time-weighted of approximately 94.4 dBA using the 80 dBA threshold level.  The employer did not ensure that hearing protectors are worn by an employee who is required by 29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1).  NO ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

Issued

Sep 27, 2018

Abate by

Jan 28, 2019

Penalty

Initial $11,086 · Current $8,315 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) Extrusion Area- On or about 08/20/2018 and ongoing, employees were exposed to continuous noise level at 153.3% of the permissible daily noise level (8 hour time-weighed average sound level of 80 dBA) or equivalent time-weighted of approximately 93.1 dBA using the 80 dBA threshold level.  The employer has not instituted a hearing conservation program.     b) Screw Area- On or about 08/20/2018 and ongoing, employees were exposed to continuous noise level at 158.4% of the permissible daily noise level (8 hour time-weighed average sound level of 80 dBA) or equivalent time-weighted of approximately 93.3 dBA using the 80 dBA threshold level.  The employer has not instituted a hearing conservation program.     c) Material Handling Area- On or about 08/20/2018 and ongoing, employees were exposed to continuous noise level at 184.3% of the permissible daily noise level (8 hour time-weighed average sound level of 80 dBA) or equivalent time-weighted of approximately 94.4 dBA using the 80 dBA threshold level.  The employer has not instituted a hearing conservation program.     d) Grinding Area- On or about 08/20/2018 and ongoing, employees were exposed to continuous noise level at 311.0% of the permissible daily noise level (8 hour time-weighed average sound level of 80 dBA) or equivalent time-weighted of approximately 98.2 dBA using the 80 dBA threshold level.  The employer has not instituted a hearing conservation program.       A hearing conservation program should include descriptions of how the criteria for the following are addressed:            1.  Are there areas in the workplace where continuous noise levels exceed 85 decibels?;         2.  Is there an ongoing preventive health program to educate employees in safe levels of noise, exposures, effects of noise on their health and the use of personal protection?;         3.  Have engineering controls been used to reduce excessive noise levels? Where engineering controls are determined to be infeasible, are administrative controls (i.e., worker rotation) being used to minimize individual employee exposure to noise?;         4.  Is approved hearing protective equipment (noise attenuating devices) available to every employee working in noisy areas?;         5.  Has noisy machinery been isolated from the rest of your operation?         6.  If employees use hearing protection, are employees properly fitted and instructed in their use?; AND         7.  The general requirements of this section.       ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

Issued

Sep 27, 2018

Abate by

Jan 28, 2019

Penalty

Initial $11,086 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(8)(ii)(B): Unless a physician determines that the standard threshold shift is not work-related or aggravated by occupational noise exposure, the employer did not ensure, when a standard threshold shift occurs, that for employees already using hearing protectors, employees be refitted and retrained in the use of hearing protectors and provided with hearing protectors offering greater attenuation if necessary:    a) Assembly Area- On or about 08/11/2017 and ongoing, the employer had not provided follow-up procedures in the that a Assembly operator had not been retrained and provided hearing protectors which offer greater attenuation when a Standard Threshold Shift (STS) had been identified.  The employee were provided with an audiometric exam on 8/11/2017 which revealed a STS and were not provided appropriate follow-up.     ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

Issued

Sep 27, 2018

Abate by

Jan 28, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(8)(ii)(C): Unless a physician determines that the standard threshold shift is not work-related or aggravated by occupational noise exposure, the employer did not ensure, when a standard threshold shift occurs, the employee was referred for a clinical audiological evaluation or an ontological examination, as appropriate, if additional testing is necessary or if the employer suspects that a medical pathology of the ear is caused or aggravated by wearing of hearing protectors:    a) Assembly Area- On or about 08/11/2017 and ongoing, the employer had not provided follow-up procedures in the that a Assembly operator was not been appropriately referred for further evaluation when a Standard Threshold Shift (STS) had been identified.  The employee were provided with an audiometric exam on 08/11/2017 which revealed a STS and were not provided appropriate follow-up.     ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED