OSHA Inspection: UNITY CABINET & GRANITE, INC.

Issued

Sep 12, 2019

Abate by

Dec 2, 2019

Penalty

Initial $3,789 · Current $1,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(2): Installation and use. Listed or labeled equipment shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling:     (a) On or about June 7, 2019, the employees were grinding on quartz and granite by improperly fitting clear, pliable, plastic tubing with flowing water to the Makita Variable Speed Angle Grinder Model 9565CV.

Issued

Sep 12, 2019

Abate by

Dec 2, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(a): General requirements. Each employer shall be responsible for the safe condition of tools and equipment used by employees, including tools and equipment which may be furnished by employees.    (a) On or about June 7, 2019, the employees were grinding on quartz and granite by improperly fitting clear, pliable, plastic tubing with flowing water to the Makita Variable Speed Angle Grinder Model 9565CV. The body of the grinder was exposed to flowing water, exposing employees to electrical hazards.

Issued

Sep 12, 2019

Abate by

Dec 2, 2019

Penalty

Initial $2,273 · Current $1,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(2)(ii): Flexible cords may be used only in continuous lengths without splice or tap. Hard-service cord and junior hard-service cord No. 14 and larger may be repaired if spliced so that the splice retains the insulation, outer sheath properties, and usage characteristics of the cord being spliced.    (a) On or about June 7, 2019, the employer had spliced the cord of a Makita Variable Speed Angle Grinder Model 9565CV, which was used to wet grind quartz and granite, with an orange extension cord in two places. The two splices were located between the black cord leading to the grinder and the black cord with the plug. Both splices were wrapped in black electrical tape. The cord was energized and in use.

Issued

Sep 12, 2019

Penalty

Initial $3,789 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(d)(1): Exposure assessment-(1) 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) or the scheduled monitoring option in paragraph (d)(3) of this section:    (a) On or about June 7, 2019, the employer had not assessed the exposure of each employee exposed to respirable crystalline silica (carcinogen). Two employees, who were cutting and grinding quartz and granite, were exposed to respirable crystalline silica at a time weighted average (TWA) of 30 and 31 micrograms per cubic meter which is above the action level of 25 micrograms per cubic meter.

Issued

Sep 12, 2019

Abate by

Dec 2, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(i)(2): Initial examination. The employer shall make available an initial (baseline) medical examination within 30 days after initial assignment, unless the employee has received a medical examination that meets the requirements of this section within the last three years. The examination shall consist of:     (a) On or about June 7, 2019, the employer had not provided a medical exam that assessed the respiratory health and history of the employees. Two employees, who were cutting and grinding quartz and granite, were exposed to respirable crystalline silica at a time weighted average (TWA) of 30 and 31 micrograms per cubic meter which is above the action level of 25 micrograms per cubic meter.

Issued

Sep 12, 2019

Abate by

Dec 2, 2019

Penalty

Initial $3,789 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(j)(1): Communication of respirable crystalline silica hazards to employees-(1) Hazard communication. The employer shall include respirable crystalline silica in the program established to comply with the hazard communication standard (HCS) (29 CFR 1910.1200). The employer shall ensure that each employee has access to labels on containers of crystalline silica and safety data sheets, and is trained in accordance with the provisions of HCS and paragraph (j)(3) of this section. The employer shall ensure that at least the following hazards are addressed: Cancer, lung effects, immune system effects, and kidney effects.    (a) On or about June 7, 2019, the employer had not included respirable crystalline silica in a hazard communication program for employees who were exposed to respirable crystalline silica (carcinogen) above the action level while cutting and grinding quartz and granite.

Issued

Sep 12, 2019

Abate by

Dec 2, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 22809000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employers shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new chemical hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area. Information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards (e.g., flammability, carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and safety data sheets.    (a) On or about June 7, 2019, the employer had not informed and trained employees about the hazardous chemicals in their work area. These chemicals included, but were not limited to Superior Bronze Polyester Knife Grade (flammable), quartz (carcinogenic), and granite (carcinogenic) while manufacturing quartz and granite countertops.

Issued

Sep 12, 2019

Abate by

Dec 2, 2019

Penalty

Initial $2,273 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 22809000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): Employers shall develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met, and which includes the requirements outlined in 29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1)(i):     (a) On or about June 7, 2019, the employer had not developed or implemented a hazard communication program and a list of hazardous chemicals for employees who worked with chemicals such as, but not limited to Superior Bronze Polyester Knife Grade (flammable), quartz (carcinogenic), and granite (carcinogenic) while manufacturing quartz and granite countertops.

Issued

Sep 12, 2019

Abate by

Dec 2, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 22809000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(1): Chemical manufacturers and importers shall obtain or develop a safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical they produce or import. Employers shall have a safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they use:    (a) On or about June 7, the employer did not have safety data sheets for employees who worked with chemicals such as, but not limited to Superior Bronze Polyester Knife Grade (flammable), quartz (carcinogenic), and granite (carcinogenic) while manufacturing quartz and granite countertops.

Issued

Sep 12, 2019

Abate by

Dec 2, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 22809000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed; the date(s) of the hazard assessment; and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment.    (a) On or about June 7, 2019, the employer had not verified through a written certification that a personal protective equipment hazard assessment had been performed for employees who were exposed to dermal irritants, inhalation hazards, and eye hazards from chemicals such as  Superior Bronze Polyester Knife Grade (flammable), crystalline silica dust from quartz and granite (carcinogenic), and wet processes used by the employees manufacturing quartz and granite countertops.

Issued

Sep 12, 2019

Abate by

Dec 2, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): In any workplace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer, the employer shall establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures. The program shall be updated as necessary to reflect those changes in workplace conditions that affect respirator use. The employer shall include in the program the provisions 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix), as applicable:    (a) On or about June 7, 2019 in the work shop, the employer had not developed a written respiratory program for employees who were required by the employer to wear filtering face pieces when cutting sinks, wet grinding edges, and polishing quartz and granite countertops. Employees performing this work were exposed above the action level (25 micrograms per cubic meter of air) to respirable crystalline silica (carcinogen) at 30 and 31 micrograms per cubic meter of air.

Issued

Sep 12, 2019

Abate by

Dec 2, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): General. The employer shall provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace. The employer may discontinue an employee's medical evaluations when the employee is no longer required to use a respirator:    (a) On or about June 7, 2019, the employer had not provided medical evaluations for employees who were required by the employer to wear filtering face pieces when cutting sinks, wet grinding edges, and polishing quartz and granite countertops.

Issued

Sep 12, 2019

Abate by

Dec 2, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not provide respirator training that would ensure each employee could demonstrate knowledge of items in section (i)-(vii):    (a) On or about June 7, 2019, the employees had not been trained on usage, maintenance, inspection, storage, limitations, and proper fit of the respirator for employees who were required by the employer to wear filtering face pieces when cutting sinks, wet grinding edges, and polishing quartz and granite countertops.