OSHA Inspection: A. O. SMITH CORPORATION

Issued

Nov 14, 2018

Abate by

Mar 11, 2019

Penalty

Initial $11,641 · Current $7,396 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer shall administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program, as described in paragraphs (c) through (o) of this section, whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (slow response) or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent. For purposes of the hearing conservation program, employee noise exposures shall be computed in accordance with appendix A and Table G-16a, and without regard to any attenuation provided by the use of personal protective equipment.    a.  On or about October 11, 2018, an employee working as a Packer was exposed to noise at 88.50% which exceeded the Action Level of 50%, an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels.  The employees 8-hour TWA sound level was approximately 89.1 dBA during the 479 minute sampling period on October 11, 2018.  The employer had not ensured that employees with noise exposures equal to or exceeding an 8-hour time-weighted sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels measure on the A scale (slow response) or, equivalently, a dose of 50 percent, wore hearing protection.    b.  On or about October 11, 2018, an employee working as a Max Test Line employee, was exposed to noise at 62.01% which exceeded the Action Level of 50%, an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels.  The employees 8-hour TWA sound level was approximately 86.6 dBA during the 480 minute sampling period on October 11, 2018.  The employer had not ensured that employees with noise exposures equal to or exceeding an 8-hour time-weighted sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels measure on the A scale (slow response) or, equivalently, a dose of 50 percent, wore hearing protection.    c.  On or about October 11, 2018, an employee working as a Saw Operator/floater was exposed to noise at 58.50% which exceeded the Action Level of 50%, an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels.  The employees 8-hour TWA sound level was approximately 86.1dBA during the  480 minute sampling period on October 11, 2018.  The employee ran the saw for approximately 100 minutes of the 480 sampling period.  The employer had not ensured that employees with noise exposures equal to or exceeding an 8-hour time-weighted sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels measure on the A scale (slow response) or, equivalently, a dose of 50 percent, wore hearing protection.