OSHA Inspection: A & J ENVIRONMENTAL PALLET RECYCLING, INC.

Issued

Mar 24, 2021

Abate by

Apr 12, 2021

Penalty

Initial $767 · Current $767

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1903.19(d)(1):The employer did not submit to the Agency documents demonstrating that abatement is complete for each willful or repeat violation and for any serious violation for which the Agency indicates in the citation that such abatement documentation is required.  (a)  The employer failed to provide documentation to the Agency demonstrating that abatement is completed for the serious violations that were issued by the Agency.

Issued

Apr 3, 2020

Abate by

May 20, 2020

Penalty

Initial $6,747 · Current $4,700 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a hearing conservation program, as required by this standard, 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.    On or about January 29, 2020, and days prior, employees were exposed to noise hazards requiring the use of personal protective equipment without a hearing conservation program in place.    (a)    The employer did not implement a Hearing Conservation program with all of its requirements (including but not limited to provision of suitable hearing protectors, medical monitoring, recordkeeping, and training).  An employee running a band saw in the saw room was exposed to a cumulative noise dose of 448.7% during a 495 minute sampling period on January 29, 2020.  This noise exposure equated to an 8-hour TWA sound level of approximately 100.8 dBA, which is above the TWA permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 90dBA and above the action level of 85dBA .    (b)    The employer did not implement a Hearing Conservation program with all of its requirements (including but not limited to provision of suitable hearing protectors, medical monitoring, recordkeeping, and training).  An employee operating a trim saw was exposed to a cumulative noise dose of 110.6% during a 491 minute sampling period on January 29, 2020.  This noise exposure equated to an 8-hour TWA sound level of approximately 90.7 dBA, which is above the TWA permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 90dBA and above the action level of 85dBA .    (c)    The employer did not implement a Hearing Conservation program with all of its requirements (including but not limited to provision of suitable hearing protectors, medical monitoring, recordkeeping, and training).  An employee operating a bundle saw was exposed to a cumulative noise dose of 67.5% during a 464 minute sampling period on January 29, 2020.  This noise exposure equated to an 8-hour TWA sound level of approximately 87.1 dBA, which is above the action level of 85dBA .    (d)    The employer did not implement a Hearing Conservation program with all of its requirements (including but not limited to provision of suitable hearing protectors, medical monitoring, recordkeeping, and training).  An employee operating the Champion machine was exposed to a cumulative noise dose of 191.5% during a 377 minute sampling period on January 29, 2020.  This noise exposure equated to an 8-hour TWA sound level of approximately 94.6 dBA, which is above the TWA permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 90dBA and above the action level of 85dBA.

Issued

Apr 3, 2020

Abate by

May 20, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1): When information indicated that any employee's exposure may equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer did not develop and implement a noise monitoring program in order to identify employees for inclusion in the hearing conservation program.  (a) On or about January 29, 2020, a program to monitor employee work tasks and changing work environment due to change in production equipment and work processes was not developed to ensure continual assessment of noise exposure to employees.

Issued

Apr 3, 2020

Abate by

Jun 30, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(1): The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.    (a) On or about January 29, 2020, the employer did not establish and implement an audiometric testing program to identify employee standard threshold shifts that may be indicative of noise-induced hearing loss.

Issued

Apr 3, 2020

Abate by

May 20, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1): The employer did not provide training to each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time weighted average of 85 decibels. The employer did not institute a training program and ensure employee participation in a program which covers subjects including but not limited to:  (a) On or about January 29, 2020, employees performed work without a continuing, effective hearing conservation program in place, which includes a training program to educate employees on, but not limited to:   - The effects of noise on hearing;  - The purpose of hearing protectors, the advantages, disadvantages, and attenuation of various types, and instructions on selection, fitting, use, and care;  - The purpose of audiometric testing, and an explanation of the test procedures.