OSHA Inspection: RPI BUSINESS CO., INC.

Issued

Feb 3, 2020

Abate by

Mar 9, 2020

Penalty

Initial $3,856 · Current $3,856

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:  An effective hearing conservation program which included noise monitoring, audiometric testing of employees and training of employees as detailed in the standard was not instituted by RPI Business Co., Inc.   a. An employee in the work area operating a dismantler was exposed to continuous noise levels at 405.9% of the allowable permissible exposure limit 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA. The equivalent dBA level of 405.9% is approximately 100.1 dBA.  The sampling was performed for 463 minutes during one shift on November 22, 2019.   b. An employee in the work area operating a chop saw was exposed to continuous noise levels at 254.6% of the allowable permissible exposure limit 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA. The equivalent dBA level of 254.6% is approximately 96.7 dBA.  The sampling was performed for 459 minutes during one shift on November 22, 2019.   c. An employee in the work area operating a chop saw was exposed to continuous noise levels at 239.7% of the allowable permissible exposure limit 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA. The equivalent dBA level of 239.7% is approximately 96.3 dBA.  The sampling was performed for 461 minutes during one shift on November 22, 2019.   d. An employee in the work area operating a dismantler was exposed to continuous noise levels at 63.9% of the allowable permissible exposure limit 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA. The equivalent dBA level of 63.9% is approximately 86.8 dBA.  The sampling was performed for 459 minutes during one shift on November 22, 2019.   e. An employee in the work area operating a nail gun was exposed to continuous noise levels at 196.4% of the allowable permissible exposure limit 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA. The equivalent dBA level of 196.4% is approximately 94.9 dBA.  The sampling was performed for 428 minutes during one shift on November 22, 2019.