OSHA Inspection: BILCO CORPORATION DBA BILCO BRICK

Issued

Dec 28, 2018

Abate by

Feb 15, 2019

Penalty

Initial $6,467 · Current $2,900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(5)(i): The employer did not establish, within 6 months of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level, a valid baseline audiogram against which subsequent audiograms can be compared:    (a) In the old line finishing building, brick machine 1 pallet throw operator was exposed to noise levels at 231.9% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 231.9% is approximately 96.0 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 466 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 14 minutes.

Issued

Dec 28, 2018

Abate by

Feb 15, 2019

Penalty

Initial $77,599 · Current $34,900 Reduced

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) In the old line finishing building, brick machine 1 operator was exposed to noise levels at 183.2% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 183.2% is approximately 94.3 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 472 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 8 minutes.    (b) In the old line finishing building, brick machine 4 operator was exposed to noise levels at 182.1% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 182.1% is approximately 94.3 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 476 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 4 minutes.    (c) In the line 1 and old line finishing buildings, a strapper operator was exposed to noise levels at 74.77% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 74.77% is approximately 87.9 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 443 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 37 minutes.    (d) In the line 1 and old line finishing buildings, a cuber operator was exposed to noise levels at 169.5% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 169.5% is approximately 93.8 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 435 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 45 minutes.    (e) In the line 1 and old line finishing buildings, a pallet strip operator/transfer conveyor controller was exposed to noise levels at 132.6% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 132.6% is approximately 92.0 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 440 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 40 minutes.    (f) In the line 1 finishing building, a paint/packing operator was exposed to noise levels at 119.4% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 119.4% is approximately 91.2 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 413 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 67 minutes.    (g) In the line 1 and old line finishing buildings, a forklift operator was exposed to noise levels at 83.69% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 83.69% is approximately 88.7 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 480 minutes during one shift.

Issued

Dec 28, 2018

Abate by

Feb 15, 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 train employees annually on the purpose of audiometric testing and an explanation of the test procedures.  (a) In the old line finishing building, brick machine 1 operator was exposed to noise levels at 183.2% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 183.2% is approximately 94.3 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 472 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 8 minutes.  (b) In the old line finishing building, brick machine 1 pallet throw operator was exposed to noise levels at 231.9% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 231.9% is approximately 96.0 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 466 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 14 minutes.  (c) In the old line finishing building, brick machine 4 operator was exposed to noise levels at 182.1% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 182.1% is approximately 94.3 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 476 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 4 minutes.  (d) In the line 1 and old line finishing buildings, a strapper operator was exposed to noise levels at 74.77% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 74.77% is approximately 87.9 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 443 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 37 minutes.  (e) In the line 1 and old line finishing buildings, a cuber operator was exposed to noise levels at 169.5% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 169.5% is approximately 93.8 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 435 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 45 minutes.  (f) In the line 1 and old line finishing buildings, a pallet strip operator/transfer conveyor controller was exposed to noise levels at 132.6% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 132.6% is approximately 92.0 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 440 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 40 minutes.  (g) In the line 1 finishing building, a paint/packing operator was exposed to noise levels at 119.4% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 119.4% is approximately 91.2 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 413 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 67 minutes.  (h) In the line 1 and old line finishing buildings, a forklift operator was exposed to noise levels at 83.69% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 83.69% is approximately 88.7 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 480 minutes during one shift.

Issued

Dec 28, 2018

Abate by

Feb 15, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(3)(iii): The employer did not ensure that each employee was informed of the purpose of audiometric testing, and an explanation of the test procedures:  The employer did not train employees annually on the purpose of audiometric testing and an explanation of the test procedures.  (a) In the old line finishing building, brick machine 1 operator was exposed to noise levels at 183.2% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 183.2% is approximately 94.3 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 472 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 8 minutes.  (b) In the old line finishing building, brick machine 1 pallet throw operator was exposed to noise levels at 231.9% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 231.9% is approximately 96.0 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 466 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 14 minutes.  (c) In the old line finishing building, brick machine 4 operator was exposed to noise levels at 182.1% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 182.1% is approximately 94.3 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 476 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 4 minutes.  (d) In the line 1 and old line finishing buildings, a strapper operator was exposed to noise levels at 74.77% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 74.77% is approximately 87.9 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 443 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 37 minutes.  (e) In the line 1 and old line finishing buildings, a cuber operator was exposed to noise levels at 169.5% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 169.5% is approximately 93.8 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 435 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 45 minutes.  (f) In the line 1 and old line finishing buildings, a pallet strip operator/transfer conveyor controller was exposed to noise levels at 132.6% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 132.6% is approximately 92.0 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 440 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 40 minutes.  (g) In the line 1 finishing building, a paint/packing operator was exposed to noise levels at 119.4% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 119.4% is approximately 91.2 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 413 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 67 minutes.  (h) In the line 1 and old line finishing buildings, a forklift operator was exposed to noise levels at 83.69% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 83.69% is approximately 88.7 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 480 minutes during one shift.