OSHA Inspection: FINE GRINDING CORP.

Issued

Mar 18, 2020

Abate by

Sep 30, 2020

Penalty

Initial $3,277 · Current $3,500

Hazardous substances 8110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1): When employees were subjected to sound exceeding those listed in Table G-16, feasible administrative or engineering controls were not utilized:    a) Station #9: An employee, Production Operator, was exposed to continuous noise at 619 % of the permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight-hour time-weighted average of 103.1 dBA. This exposure was observed over a 457 minute sampling period on January 23, 2020. Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not utilized, on or about January 23, 2020.       b) Production Area: An employee, Foreman, was exposed to continuous noise at 213.6 % of the permissible exposure level of 90 dBA or an eight-hour time-weighted average of 95.7 dBA. This exposure was observed over a 461 minute sampling period on January 23, 2020. Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not utilized, on or about January 23, 2020.       Feasible abatement methods include but are not limited to:   1. Enclosing the hammer mill and motor in Station #9.   2. Enclosing ventilation fans that are in the room with Station #8 and #9.   3. Installing sound absorbing materials in Station #8 and #9.   4. Installing an operator station which is separated from machines creating high levels of noise.      ABATEMENT STEPS ARE AS FOLLOW:      STEP 1 - An effective hearing conservation program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (n) shall be maintained.      STEP 2 - A written detailed plan of abatement shall be submitted to the Area Director outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee exposures to noise as referenced in this citation. This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the dates required by this citation:      1.  Evaluation of engineering control options;      2.  Selection of optimum control method and completion of design;      3.  Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures;      4.  Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls.      Note: All proposed control measures shall be approved for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person.  Ninety (90) day progress reports are required during the abatement period. (The 90 day requirement can be shortened or lengthened by the area director depending on the specific circumstances.)      STEP 3 - Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.

Issued

Mar 18, 2020

Abate by

Jun 30, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(6): At least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram, the employer did not obtain a new audiogram for each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels :     a) Station #9: An employee, Production Operator, was exposed to continuous noise at levels above the permissible exposure level of 90 dBA and annual audiograms were not provided, on or about January 23, 2020. (See full description in Citation 1.1a)    Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Mar 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(2): The training program was not repeated annually for each employee included in the hearing conservation program:   a) Station #9: An employee, Production Operator, was exposed to continuous noise at levels above the permissible exposure level of 90 dBA and employees were not provided required hearing conservation training, on or about January 23, 2020. (See full description in Citation 1.1a)     b) Production Area: An employee, Foreman, was exposed to continuous noise at levels above the permissible exposure level of 90 dBA and employees were not provided required hearing conservation training, on or about January 23, 2020. (See full description in Citation 1.1b)     ABATEMENT NOTE:  Employees shall be informed of the following:  1. The effects of noise on hearing.  2. The purpose of hearing protectors, the advantages, disadvantages, and attenuation of various types, and instructions on selection, fitting, use, and care.  3. The purpose of audiometric testing and an explanation of the test procedures.

Issued

Mar 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A): Respirators with tight-fitting facepieces were worn by employees who had facial hair that came between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interfered with valve function:  a) Production Area: Employees required to wear tight-fitting facepiece respirators wore the respirators while having facial hair that interfered with the seal, on or about December 11, 2019.  No abatement certification or documentation required.