OSHA Inspection: GRANITE MASTERS, INC.

Issued

Jan 22, 2019

Abate by

Apr 1, 2019

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $5,432 Reduced

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:       Granite Masters in Suwanee GA: Employer did not develop or implement a monitoring program for employees exposed to a noise level exceeding the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels on or about August 21, 2018.      a.  Granite Masters Inc in Suwanee GA - Fabricator 1 working in the dry cutting area exposed to noise at a TWA of 94.4 dBA, exceeding the action level of 85 dBA. The exposure was derived from a sample taken over 430 minutes. Zero was assumed for the unsampled period of 50 minutes, on or about 8/21/18.      b.   Granite Masters Inc in Suwanee GA- Fabricator 2 working in the dry cutting area was exposed to noise at a TWA of 94 dBA, exceeding the action level of 85 dBA. The exposure was derived from a sample taken over 506 minutes, on or about 8/21/18.      c.  Granite Masters Inc in Suwanee GA  Polisher in the production area was exposed to noise at a TWA of 89.5 dBA, exceeding the action level of 85 dBA. The exposure was derived from a sample taken over 519 minutes, on or about 8/21/18.      d.  Granite Masters Inc in Suwanee GA  Forklift operator/polisher in the production area was exposed to noise at a TWA of 85.6 dBA, exceeding the action level of 85 dBA. The exposure was derived from a sample taken over 515 minutes, on or about 8/21/18.

Issued

Jan 22, 2019

Abate by

Apr 1, 2019

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:      Granite Masters In Suwanee GA: Employer did not establish base line audiometric testing for employees who were exposure exceed the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels on or about August 21, 2018.

Issued

Jan 22, 2019

Abate by

Apr 1, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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). The employer did not institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the program:      Granite Masters in Suwanee GA: Employer did not train employees exposed to a noise level at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, on or about August 21, 2018.

Issued

Jan 22, 2019

Abate by

Mar 1, 2019

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $5,432 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c): The employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program with required worksite-specific procedures and elements for required respirator use:    Granite Masters  in Suwanee GA: Employer did not establish a written respiratory protection program for employees who wear respirators when exposed to silica dust while cutting/grinding on or about August 21, 2018.

Issued

Jan 22, 2019

Abate by

Mar 1, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard(s) in the workplace; including a reasonable estimate of employee exposures to respiratory hazards and identification of the contaminant's chemical state and physical form:       Granite Masters in Suwanee GA: Employer did not evaluate the respiratory protection program for employees who wear half face respirators when exposed to silica dust while cutting/grinding, on or about August 21, 2018.

Issued

Jan 22, 2019

Abate by

Mar 1, 2019

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $5,432 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(d)(1): The employer did not assess the exposure of each employee who was or may reasonably be expected to be exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level in accordance with either the performance option in paragraph (d)(2) or the scheduled monitoring option in paragraph (d)(3) of this section:      Granite Masters in Suwanee GA: Employer did not assess the exposure level of employees who could reasonably be exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level on or about August 21, 2018.     a.       Granite Masters Inc in Suwanee GA- Fabricator #1 dry cutting granite counter tops was exposed to crystalline silica levels of 1,500 ug/m3, exceeding the action level of 25 ug/m3. The exposure was derived from a sample taken over 511 minutes, on or about 8/21/18.  b.       Granite Masters Inc in Suwanee GA   Fabricator #2 working in dry cutting granite counter tops was exposed to silica levels of 1,600 ug/m3, exceeding the action level of 25 ug/m3. The exposure was derived from a sample taken over 500 minutes, on or about 8/21/18.  c.        Granite Masters Inc in Suwanee GA - An employee #3 polishing granite counter tops was exposed to crystalline silica levels of 240 ug/m3, exceeding the action level of 25 ug/m3. The exposure was derived from a sample taken over 514 minutes, on or about 8/21/18.  d.       Granite Masters Inc in Suwanee GA-Forklift operator/polishing granite counter tops working main production area was exposed to crystalline silica levels of 150 ug/m3, exceeding the action level of 25 ug/m3. The exposure was derived from a sample taken over 511 minutes, on or about 8/21/18.

Issued

Jan 22, 2019

Abate by

Mar 1, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(i)(2): The employer did not make available an initial (baseline) medical examination within 30 days after initial assignment when the employee had not received a medical examination that meets the requirements of this section within the last three years:    Granite Masters in Suwanee GA: Employer did not provide base line medical evaluations to employees who were exposed to silica dust in fabrication and polishing areas for over 30 days on or about August 20, 2018.

Issued

Jan 22, 2019

Abate by

Mar 1, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(j)(2): The employer did not post signs at all entrances to regulated areas that bear the following legend:   DANGER RESPIRABLE CRYSTALLINE SILICA   MAY CAUSE CANCER   CAUSES DAMAGE TO LUNGS   WEAR RESPIRATORY PROTECTION IN THIS AREA   AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY      Granite Masters in Suwanee GA: Employer did not post signes at all entrances to regulated areas with silica exposure, on or about August 21, 2018.

Issued

Jan 22, 2019

Abate by

Mar 1, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(j)(3)(i): Employee information and training. (i) The employer shall ensure that each employee covered by this section can demonstrate knowledge and understanding of at least the following:         *(A): The health hazards associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica;         *(B): Specific tasks in the workplace that could result in exposure to respirable crystalline silica;         *(C): Specific measures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to respirable crystalline silica, including engineering controls, work practices, and respirators to be used;         *(D): The contents of this section;         *(E): The purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program required by paragraph (i) of this section.        Granite Masters in Suwanee GA: Employer did not develop and implement training about the hazards of silica such that employees could demonstrate knowledge of the hazard on or about August 21, 2018.

Issued

Jan 22, 2019

Abate by

Mar 1, 2019

Penalty

Initial $9,054 · Current $5,432 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:      Granite Masters in Suwanee GA: Employer did not implement a work place hazard communication program to inform and educate employees about the chemicals in the work place including but not limited to epoxy glue, cleaning supplies, and silica on or about August 21, 2018.