OSHA Inspection: QUANDEL-HUNT A JOINT VENTURE

Issued

May 3, 2019

Abate by

Jun 7, 2019

Penalty

Initial $13,260 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1153(d)(1): Permissible exposure limit (PEL). The employer shall ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica in excess of 50 ug/m3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA.    a. On February 13, 2019, the Skilled Laborer, assigned to remove concrete and metal forms in preparation for the installation of an expansion joint, was exposed to respirable crystalline silica at an 8-hour time weighted average of 79.28 micrograms respirable silica dust per cubic meters air. This exposure was approximately 1.6 times the calculated permissible exposure limit of 50 micrograms respirable silica dust per cubic meter air. Silicosis and cancer are health effects related to exposure to respirable crystalline quartz silica.     b. On February 13, 2019, the Skilled Laborer, assigned to remove concrete and metal forms in preparation for the installation of an expansion joint, was exposed to respirable crystalline silica at an 8-hour time weighted average of 77.5 micrograms respirable silica dust per cubic meters air. This exposure was approximately 1.6 times the calculated permissible exposure limit of 50 micrograms respirable silica dust per cubic meter air. Silicosis and cancer are health effects related to exposure to respirable crystalline silica.

Issued

May 3, 2019

Abate by

Jun 7, 2019

Penalty

Initial $13,260 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1153(d)(2)(i): General. The employer shall assess the exposure of each employee who is 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)(ii) or the scheduled monitoring option in paragraph (d)(2)(iii) of this section.   a. On or about February 13, 2019, at the worksite, employees cutting concrete using a circular saw with an abrasive blade and a shop vacuum to capture the resulting dust were over-exposed to silica dust at 1.6 times OSHA's Permissible Exposure Limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air for an 8-hour time weighted average. The employer had not performed an initial  exposure assessment of the job task to determine the employee's exposure.   Exposure assessments can be based on personal breathing zone air samples or on the basis of any combination of air monitoring data or objective data sufficient to accurately characterize employee exposures to respirable crystalline silica.

Issued

May 3, 2019

Abate by

Jun 7, 2019

Penalty

Initial $13,260 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1153(d)(3)(i): Methods of compliance-Engineering and work practice controls. The employer shall 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. Wherever such feasible engineering and work practice controls are not sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the PEL, the employer shall nonetheless use them to reduce employee exposure to the lowest feasible level and shall supplement them with the use of respiratory protection that complies with the requirements of paragraph (e) of this section.   a. On or about February 13, 2019, at the worksite, employees dry cutting concrete using a circular saw with an abrasive blade and a shop vacuum to capture the resulting dust were over-exposed to silica dust at 1.6 times OSHA's Permissible Exposure Limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air for an 8-hour time weighted average. The employer did not implement engineering controls/work practices to ensure that employees were not over-exposed to respirable crystalline silica dust. One acceptable engineering/work practice control found in 1910.1153(c)(1), Table 1, included the use of a saw equipped with an integrated water delivery system that would continuously feed water to the blade to control the generated dust.