OSHA Inspection: TELLURIDE STONE COMPANY

Issued

Jan 10, 2019

Abate by

Dec 30, 2022

Penalty

Initial $4,268 · Current $4,268

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(1): The employer did not use engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica to or below the PEL, unless the employer can demonstrate that such controls are not feasible:  (a) Telluride Stone Company at 1471 Colorado 141, Whitewater, CO: On and before September 26, 2018, the employer did not ensure that feasible engineering and work practice controls  were developed and implemented to reduce and maintain employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica to or below the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL). On September 26, 2018 one employee operating a Park Industries TXS 5500 Thin Cutting Machine in the Saw Room (Building 2) was exposed to respirable crystalline silica at a concentration greater than the 8 hour time weighted average (TWA) PEL of 0.050 mg/m3. The employee was exposed to respirable silica at a concentration of 0.1948 mg/m3 as an 8 hour TWA.  This is 3.9 times the PEL.  Air monitoring was conducted for 410 minutes.  (b) Telluride Stone Company at 1471 Colorado 141, Whitewater, CO: On and before September 26, 2018, the employer did not ensure that feasible engineering and work practice controls were developed and implemented to reduce and maintain employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica to or below the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL). On September 26, 2018 one employee operating a Park Industries TXS 5500 Thin Cutting Machine in the Saw Room (Building 2) was exposed to respirable crystalline silica at a concentration greater than the 8 hour time weighted average (TWA) PEL of 0.050 mg/m3. The employee was exposed to respirable silica at a concentration of 0.0763 mg/m3 as an 8 hour TWA.  This is 1.5 times the PEL.  Air monitoring was conducted for 416 minutes.  (c) Telluride Stone Company at 1471 Colorado 141, Whitewater, CO: On and before September 26, 2018, the employer did not ensure that feasible engineering and work practice controls were developed and implemented to reduce and maintain employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica to or below the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL). On September 26, 2018 one employee assisting an operator on a Park Industries TXS 5500 Thin Cutting Machine in the Saw Room (Building 2) was exposed to respirable crystalline silica at a concentration greater than the 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) PEL of 0.050 mg/m3. The employee was exposed to respirable silica at a concentration of 0.1127 mg/m3 as an 8 hour TWA.  This is 2.3 times the PEL.  Air monitoring was conducted for 426 minutes.    Abatement Note:  Feasible engineering controls include, but are not limited to:  1) Local exhaust ventilation with sufficient capture velocity to entrain particulate at the Park Industries TXS 5500 thin cutting machines in Building 2. 2) Increased separation (distance) of the operators from the saw blade region of the TXS 5500 thin cutting machines. 3) Filtration of particulates in water for mist system from the recycled water pits.  Abatement Note:  Abatement of this item will normally be multi-step as follows:  1. Effective respiratory protection shall be provided and used by exposed employees as an interim protective measure until feasible engineering and/or administrative controls can be implemented or whenever such controls fail to reduce employee exposure to within exposure limits.  STEP 1 ABATEMENT DATE (15 DAYS): 01/25/2019   2. 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 exposures to the hazardous substance referenced in this citation.  The plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which should be consistent with the dates required by this citation: a. Evaluation of the extent and location of the hazard source; b. Evaluation of control measure options; c. Selection of optimum control measures; d. Determination of control measure design; e. Ordering and delivery of equipment; f. Installation of control measures; g. Training of employees in proper operation and maintenance of newly implemented control measures; and h. Assurance of the effective performance of control measures.  All proposed control measures shall be evaluated for each particular use by a competent Industrial Hygienist or other technically qualified person.  Thirty day progress reports are required during the abatement period.  The progress report must identify the action taken to achieve abatement and the date the action was taken.  STEP 2 ABATEMENT DATE (60 DAYS):  03/11/2019   3. Abatement will be completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls and upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.  STEP 3 ABATEMENT DATE (120 DAYS):  05/10/2019

Issued

Jan 10, 2019

Abate by

Feb 14, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(d)(3)(i): The employer did not perform initial monitoring to assess the 8-hour TWA exposure for each employee on the basis of one or more personal breathing zone air samples that reflect the exposures of employees on each shift, for each job classification, in each work area:  (a) Telluride Stone Company at 1471 Colorado 141, Whitewater, CO: On and before September 25, 2018, the employer did not perform initial monitoring to assess the 8 hour time weighted average (TWA) respirable crystalline silica exposure for employees cutting stone with a Park Industries TXS 4500 corner cutting machine in the Corner Building (Building 1). This condition potentially exposed employees to the hazards of respirable crystalline silica.  (b) Telluride Stone Company at 1471 Colorado 141, Whitewater, CO: On and before September 25, 2018, the employer did not perform initial monitoring to assess the 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) respirable crystalline silica exposure for the employee conducting cleaning on Saturdays in the Saw Room (Building 2). This condition potentially exposed employees to the hazards of respirable crystalline silica.

Issued

Jan 10, 2019

Abate by

Feb 14, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(e)(2)(i): The employer did not demarcate regulated areas from the rest of the workplace in a manner that minimized the number of employees exposed to respirable crystalline silica within the regulated area:   (a) Telluride Stone Company at 1471 Colorado 141, Whitewater, CO: On and before September 25, 2018, the employer had established the Saw Room (Building 2) as a regulated area but did not demarcate the regulated area from the rest of the workplace. This condition potentially exposed employees to the hazards of respirable crystalline silica.    Abatement Note: Cones, stanchions, tape, barricades, lines, or textured flooring are some of the ways of marking the boundaries of regulated areas.

Issued

Jan 10, 2019

Abate by

Feb 14, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(e)(2)(ii): The employer failed to post signs at all entrances to regulated areas:  (a) Telluride Stone Company at 1471 Colorado 141, Whitewater, CO: On and before September 25, 2018, the employer had established the Saw Room as a regulated area but failed to post signs at all entrances to the regulated area. This condition potentially exposed employees to the hazards of respirable crystalline silica.    Abatement Note: The employer shall 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

Issued

Jan 10, 2019

Abate by

Feb 14, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(2)(ii): The employer did not review and evaluate the effectiveness of the written exposure control plan at least annually and update it as necessary:  (a) Telluride Stone Company at 1471 Colorado 141, Whitewater, CO: On and before September 25, 2018, the employer did not update the written exposure control plan. The written exposure control plan had not been updated to contain that employees were exposed to respirable silica above the 8 hour time weighted average Permissible Exposure Limit under the final rule in the Saw Room (Building 2) based on past personal employee air monitoring and that the use of respiratory protection was required in the Saw Room.  This condition potentially exposed employees to the hazards of respirable crystalline silica.

Issued

Jan 10, 2019

Abate by

Feb 14, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(j)(3)(i): The employer did ensure that each employee covered by this section could demonstrate knowledge and understanding of  the health hazards associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica; specific tasks in the workplace that could result in exposure to respirable crystalline silica; specific measures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to respirable crystalline silica; the contents of this section; and the purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program required by paragraph (i) of this section:  (a) Telluride Stone Company at 1471 Colorado 141, Whitewater, CO: On and before September 25, 2018, the employer did not ensure that each employee covered by this section could demonstrate knowledge and understanding of  the health hazards associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica, including but not limited to immune system and kidney effects. This condition potentially exposed employees to the hazards of respirable crystalline silica.