OSHA Inspection: PANHANDLE QUARTZ FABRICATORS, LLC

Issued

Jun 26, 2020

Abate by

Jul 23, 2020

Penalty

Initial $4,048 · Current $1,950 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:    The employer did not have a written respiratory protection program for employees wearing respirators while working on granite countertops and exposed them to adverse health effects associated with respirable silica.

Issued

Jun 26, 2020

Abate by

Jul 23, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:  The employer did not provide medical evaluations for employees required to use a respirator while cutting, grinding, and polishing granite slabs; exposing employees to hazardous atmospheric conditions.

Issued

Jun 26, 2020

Abate by

Jul 23, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(1): The employer did not ensure that employee(s) required to use a tight-fitting facepiece respirator passed the appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT):  The employer did not provide fit tests for employees required to use a respirator while working on granite slabs; exposing employees to hazardous atmospheric conditions.

Issued

Jun 26, 2020

Abate by

Jul 23, 2020

Penalty

Initial $3,470 · Current $1,450 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.243(c)(1): Abrasive wheel(s) were used on portable grinder(s) which were not provided with safety guard(s) meeting the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.243(c)(1) through (c)(4)(a):    In the Production Area, employees were exposed to amputation hazards while working with portable hand grinders.

Issued

Jun 26, 2020

Abate by

Jul 23, 2020

Penalty

Initial $4,048 · Current $1,950 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(c): The employer did not ensure that no employee was exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica in excess of 50 µg/m3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA:    (a)  An employee who was performing hand grinding operations was exposed to respirable crystalline silica at an eight-hour time-weighted average of 210 micrograms per cubic meter of air, approximately 4.2 times 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air. This limit is established to prevent silicosis and lung cancer. Sampling was performed for 417 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time of 63 minutes;     (b) An employee who was cutting granite slabs was exposed to respirable crystalline silica at an eight-hour time-weighted average of 66 micrograms per cubic meter of air, approximately 1.32 times 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air. This limit is established to prevent silicosis and lung cancer. Sampling was performed for 439 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time of 41 minutes;    (c) An employee was performing cleaning operations was exposed to respirable crystalline silica at an eight-hour time-weighted average of 170 micrograms per cubic meter of air, approximately 3.4 times 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air. This limit is established to prevent silicosis and lung cancer. Sampling was performed for 222 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time of 258 minutes;

Issued

Jun 26, 2020

Abate by

Jul 23, 2020

Penalty

Initial $4,048 · Current $1,950 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(d)(1): The employer did not assess the exposure of each employee who was 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) The employer did not determine if any portable hand grinder employees may be exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level. Portable hand grinder employees were assigned to perform grinding operations on marble and quartz countertops. Personal air monitoring indicated that employee(s) were exposed to airborne crystalline silica concentrations of 210 micrograms per cubic meter of air which exceeded the action level of 25 micrograms per cubic meter of air by approximately 8.4.    (b) The employer did not determine if any manual bridge saw employees may be exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level. Manual bridge saw employees were assigned to perform cutting operations on marble and quartz countertops.  Personal air monitoring indicated that employee(s) were exposed to airborne crystalline silica concentrations of 66 micrograms per cubic meter of air which exceeded the action level of 25 micrograms per cubic meter of air by approximately 2.64.    (c) The employer did not determine if any cleaning employees may be exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level. Cleaning employees were assigned to perform cutting operations on marble and quartz countertops.  Personal air monitoring indicated that employee(s) were exposed to airborne crystalline silica concentrations of 170 micrograms per cubic meter of air which exceeded the action level of 25 micrograms per cubic meter of air by approximately 3.4.

Issued

Jun 26, 2020

Abate by

Jul 23, 2020

Penalty

Initial $4,048 · Current $1,950 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(e)(1): The employer did not establish a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica was, or could have been reasonably expected to be, in excess of the PEL:    The employer did not establish a regulated area for employee(s) exposed to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica above the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL). Personal air monitoring conducted at the workplace showed that employee(s) were exposed to airborne concentrations of 210 micrograms per cubic meter of air, 66 micrograms per cubic meter of air, and 170 micrograms per cubic meter of air which exceeded the PEL of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air by 4.2, 1.32, 3.4 times respectively. This limit is established to prevent silicosis and lung cancer. Employee(s) were assigned duties such as but not limited to grinding, sawing, and cutting granite countertops.

Issued

Jun 26, 2020

Abate by

Jul 23, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(e)(2)(ii): The employer failed to post signs at all entrances to regulated areas:  The employer did not post signs at regulated areas for employee(s) exposed to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica above the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL). Personal air monitoring conducted at the workplace showed that employee(s) were exposed to airborne concentrations of 210 micrograms per cubic meter of air, 66 micrograms per cubic meter of air, and 170 micrograms per cubic meter of air which exceeded the PEL of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air by 4.2, 1.32, 3.4 times respectively. This limit is established to prevent silicosis and lung cancer. Employee(s) were assigned duties such as but not limited to grinding, sawing, and cutting granite countertops.

Issued

Jun 26, 2020

Abate by

Jul 23, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(j)(2): The employer did not post signs at all entrances to regulated areas that bear the following legend: DANGER, RESPIRABLE CRYSTALLINE SILICA, MAY CAUSE CANCER, CAUSES DAMAGE TO LUNGS, WEAR RESPIRATORY PROTECTION IN THIS AREA, AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY:   The employer did not post the following warning signs DANGER- RESPIRABLE CRYSTALLINE SILICA-MAY CAUSE CANCER-CAUSES DAMAGE TO LUNGS- WEAR RESPIRATORY PROTECTION IN THIS AREA- AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY, at the entrance of the Production Area where the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) were exceeded. Personal air monitoring conducted at the workplace showed that employee(s) were exposed to airborne concentrations of 210 micrograms per cubic meter of air, 66 micrograms per cubic meter of air, and 170 micrograms per cubic meter of air which exceeded the PEL of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air by 4.2, 1.32, 3.4 times respectively. This limit is established to prevent silicosis and lung cancer.

Issued

Jun 26, 2020

Abate by

Jul 23, 2020

Penalty

Initial $4,048 · Current $1,950 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(1): The employer did not use engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica to or below the PEL, unless the employer can demonstrate that such controls are not feasible:    (a)  An employee was performing hand grinding operations and was exposed to respirable crystalline silica at an eight-hour time-weighted average of 210 micrograms per cubic meter of air, approximately 4.2 times 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air. This limit is established to prevent silicosis and lung cancer. Sampling was performed for 417 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time of 63 minutes;     (b) An employee was performing cutting operations and was exposed to respirable crystalline silica at an eight-hour time-weighted average of 66 micrograms per cubic meter of air, approximately 1.32 times 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air. This limit is established to prevent silicosis and lung cancer. Sampling was performed for 439 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time of 41 minutes;    (c) An employee was performing cleaning operations and was exposed to respirable crystalline silica at an eight-hour time-weighted average of 170 micrograms per cubic meter of air, approximately 3.4 times 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air. This limit is established to prevent silicosis and lung cancer. Sampling was performed for 222 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time of 258 minutes;

Issued

Jun 26, 2020

Abate by

Jul 23, 2020

Penalty

Initial $4,048 · Current $1,950 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(2)(i): The employer did not establish and implement a written exposure control plan:    The employer did not establish and implement a written exposure control program outlining the specific engineering and work practice controls to be implemented to reduce employee respirable crystalline silica exposures  to below the permissible exposure (PEL). A written plan shall include the at the least the requirements set forth in sections 29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(2)(i)(A)-(C).

Issued

Jun 26, 2020

Abate by

Jul 23, 2020

Penalty

Initial $4,048 · Current $1,950 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(i)(1)(i): Medical surveillance-(1) General. (i) The employer shall make medical surveillance available at no cost to the employee, and at a reasonable time and place, for each employee who will be occupationally exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year.    The employer did not institute a medical surveillance program for all employee(s) who were exposed respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level for 30 days per year. Personal air monitoring indicated that three employees were exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica concentrations which exceeded the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL).This limit is established to prevent silicosis and lung cancer. Employees were assigned duties such as but not limited to operating chop saws and portable hand grinders.

Issued

Jun 26, 2020

Abate by

Jul 23, 2020

Penalty

Initial $4,048 · Current $1,950 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(j)(3)(i): Employee information and training. (i) The employer shall ensure that each employee covered by this section can demonstrate knowledge and understanding of at least the following: The health hazards associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica; specific tasks in the workplace that could result in exposure to respirable crystalline silica; specific measures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to respirable crystalline silica, including engineering controls, work practices, and respirators to be used; the contents of this section; and the purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program required by paragraph (i) of this section.    The employer did not did not conduct training on silica for employee(s) exposed to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica above the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL). Personal air monitoring conducted at the workplace showed that employee(s) were exposed to airborne concentrations of 210 micrograms per cubic meter of air, 66 micrograms per cubic meter of air, and 170 micrograms per cubic meter of air which exceeded the PEL of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air by 4.2, 1.32, 3.4 times respectively. This limit is established to prevent silicosis and lung cancer.

Issued

Jun 26, 2020

Abate by

Jul 23, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:  In the production area, employees were not trained on the specific health hazards for hazardous chemicals including, but not limited to respirable crystalline silica dust.

Issued

Jun 26, 2020

Abate by

Jul 23, 2020

Penalty

Initial $4,048 · Current $1,950 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:    Throughout the establishment, the employer had not developed, implemented, and maintained a written hazard communication program for employees performing granite countertop manufacturing operations who were exposed to hazardous chemicals including, but not limited to respirable crystalline silica dust.