OSHA Inspection: GRANUBAND

Issued

Aug 14, 2019

Abate by

May 29, 2020

Penalty

Initial $6,630 · Current $1,658 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

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.    At Granuband located at 612 Blees Industrial Drive Macon MO, the employer failed to establish a Hearing Conservation Program. Employees were exposed to continuous noise levels higher than 85 dBA in the following areas:    (a): An employee working in the granular production area was exposed to continuous noise level at 184.6% dose of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 dBA or an equivalent sound level of approximately 94.4 dBA. The sampling was performed for 434 minutes during one shift.    (b): An employee working in the yard/granular production area was exposed to continuous noise level at 92.4% dose of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 dBA or an equivalent sound level of approximately 89.4 dBA. The sampling was performed for 429 minutes during one shift.    (c): An employee working in the granular production area was exposed to continuous noise level at 172.4% dose of the allowable 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 dBA or an equivalent sound level of approximately 93.9 dBA. The sampling was performed for 448 minutes during one shift