OSHA Inspection: NEW STONE CONCEPTS

Issued

2019-05-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-06-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5304.00 · Current $3182.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding was not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:  On or about February 25, 2019 and times prior thereto, the Park Industries Fast Back edge polisher was not adequately guarded to prevent employees hands from getting between the rotating rollers and moving granite blocks, exposing employees to the hazard of nip-points and rotating parts.

Issued

2019-05-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-06-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3789.00 · Current $2273.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b): Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i.:  On or about February 25, 2019 and times prior thereto, employees in the stone cutting/fabrication area were using compressed air set above 30psi to clean dust off of the stone and their work clothes, exposing employees to the hazards of being struck by flying particles.

Issued

2019-05-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-06-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2273.00 · Current $1364.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(e)(1)(ii): Markings were not provided on electrical equipment for voltage, current, wattage and other ratings as necessary.  On or about February 25, 2019 and times prior thereto, the electrical panel box in the stone fabrication shop area near the Pro-Edge III was not marked with the voltage or any other markings as required, exposing employees to the hazard of electrical shock in the event of an emergency.

Issued

2019-05-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-06-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2273.00 · Current $1364.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(iii): Flexible cords and cables were not connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief was provided that would prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws:  On or about February 25, 2019 and times prior thereto, in the stone grinding area in the fabrication shop, a overhead electrical cord had the cable pulled away from the attachment cap, exposing employees to the hazards of electrical shock.

Issued

2019-05-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-07-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3789.00 · Current $2273.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 90009010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(c): The employer did not ensure that no employee was exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica in excess of 50 ug/m3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA:  At or about February 25, 2019 and times prior thereto, employees in the fabrication area were exposed to airborne concentrations of silica in excess of 50 ug/m3 while fabricating stone countertops, exposing employees to inhalation of silica hazards.  a) A stone fabricators in the shop area, who used handheld cutters and grinders to manufacture stone countertops, were exposed to silica at an 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) up to 1310 micrograms per cubic meter of air, over 26 times the Permissable Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air. The exposure level is derived from a breathing zone sample collected over 465 minutes and include a zero value for the 15 minutes not sampled.   b) A stone fabricators in the shop area, who used handheld cutters and grinders to manufacture stone countertops, were exposed to silica at an 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) up to 955 micrograms per cubic meter of air, over 19 times the Permissable Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air. The exposure level is derived from a breathing zone sample collected over 464 minutes and include a zero value for the 16 minutes not sampled.  c) A stone fabricators in the shop area, who used handheld cutters and grinders to manufacture stone countertops, were exposed to silica at an 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) up to 117 micrograms per cubic meter of air, over 2.5 times the Permissable Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air. The exposure level is derived from a breathing zone sample collected over 444 minutes and include a zero value for the 56 minutes not sampled.

Issued

2019-05-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-07-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 90009010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(d)(2): The employer did not assess the 8-hour TWA exposure for each employee on the basis of any combination of air monitoring data or objective data sufficient to accurately characterize employee exposures to respirable crystalline silica:  At or about February 25, 2019 and times prior thereto, the employer had not evaluated employee exposure to respirable silica for employees in the fabrication area who were exposed to airborne concentrations of silica in excess of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air while fabricating stone countertops, exposing employees to the hazard of inhalation of silica.  a) A stone fabricators in the shop area, who used handheld cutters and grinders to manufacture stone countertops, were exposed to silica at an 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) up to 1310 micrograms per cubic meter of air, over 26 times the Permissable Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air. The exposure level is derived from a breathing zone sample collected over 465 minutes and include a zero value for the 15 minutes not sampled.   b) A stone fabricators in the shop area, who used handheld cutters and grinders to manufacture stone countertops, were exposed to silica at an 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) up to 955 micrograms per cubic meter of air, over 19 times the Permissable Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air. The exposure level is derived from a breathing zone sample collected over 464 minutes and include a zero value for the 16 minutes not sampled.  c) A stone fabricators in the shop area, who used handheld cutters and grinders to manufacture stone countertops, were exposed to silica at an 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) up to 117 micrograms per cubic meter of air, over 2.5 times the Permissable Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air. The exposure level is derived from a breathing zone sample collected over 444 minutes and include a zero value for the 56 minutes not sampled.

Issued

2019-05-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-07-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3789.00 · Current $2273.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 90009010

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:  At or about February 25, 2019 and times prior thereto, the employer had not implemented engineering and work practive controls to bring employee exposure to respirable silica to or below the PEL at the time of the inspection, exposing employees to the hazard of inhalation of silica.  a) A stone fabricators in the shop area, who used handheld cutters and grinders to manufacture stone countertops, were exposed to silica at an 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) up to 1310 micrograms per cubic meter of air, over 26 times the Permissable Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air. The exposure level is derived from a breathing zone sample collected over 465 minutes and include a zero value for the 15 minutes not sampled.   b) A stone fabricators in the shop area, who used handheld cutters and grinders to manufacture stone countertops, were exposed to silica at an 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) up to 955 micrograms per cubic meter of air, over 19 times the Permissable Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air. The exposure level is derived from a breathing zone sample collected over 464 minutes and include a zero value for the 16 minutes not sampled.  c) A stone fabricators in the shop area, who used handheld cutters and grinders to manufacture stone countertops, were exposed to silica at an 8 hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) up to 117 micrograms per cubic meter of air, over 2.5 times the Permissable Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air. The exposure level is derived from a breathing zone sample collected over 444 minutes and include a zero value for the 56 minutes not sampled.

Issued

2019-05-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-06-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(g)(2): Where respirator use was required by this section, the employer did not institute a respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134:  On or about February 25, 2019 and times prior thereto, the employer had not developed implemented a respiratory program for employees working in the stone fabrication shop grinding and cutting natural and engineered stone who were exposed to respirable silica above a time weighted average (TWA) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air.  The program shall include the following elements:      (e) Medical Evaluation      (f) Fit testing      (g) Use of respirators      (h) Maintenance and Care of Respirators      (j) Identification of filters, cartridges, and canisters      (k) Training       (l) Program Evaluation

Issued

2019-05-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-06-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $758.00 · Current $455.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.29(a): The employer did not use an OSHA 300, 301 and 300A Form or equivalent.  On December 3, 2018 an employee received a work-related injury while checking the polished side of a piece of granite exiting the Fastback machine. For the calendar year 2018, the employer failed to keep a 300 log, 300A summary, and the 301 did not contain all the required information in that it did not contain information on the employee's activities prior to the incident.