OSHA Inspection: GLEN-GERY CORPORATION

Issued

Jul 24, 2020

Abate by

Sep 8, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,494 · Current $11,245 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d): The established procedure for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) did not cover the actions listed in and was not done in sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1)-(6):     On or about March 4, 2020, in the mill room, the employer did not ensure that the company's energy control procedures were utilized to control hazardous mechanical movement of the cutter reel when an employee conducted activities such as but not limited to changing cutting wires.

Issued

Jul 24, 2020

Abate by

May 31, 2022

Penalty

Initial $13,494 · Current $11,245 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 ug/m3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA:    a) On or about March 17, 2020, in the hack and mill areas, the hourly supervisor was exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica at an eight hour time weighted average of 102 ug/m3 which exceeds the OSHA PEL of 50 ug/m3 when supervising and assisting employees involved in the mixing, extruding, cutting and stacking of brick which is formulated using quartz containing products.    b) On or about March 17, 2020, in the mill room, the mill operator was exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica at an eight hour time weighted average of 96.4 ug/m3 which exceeds the OSHA PEL of 50 ug/m3 when working around the mixing, extruding and cutting of brick which is formulated using quartz containing products.    c) On or about March 17, 2020, in the mill room, the texture person was exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica at an eight hour time weighted average of 145.7 ug/m3 which exceeds the OSHA PEL of 50 ug/m3 when working around mixing, extruding and cutting of brick which is formulated using quartz containing products and when adding sand containing quartz to the texture hopper.    d) On or about March 18, 2020, in the thin brick area, the thin brick tear down employee was exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica at an eight hour time weighted average of 54.2 ug/m3 which exceeds the OSHA PEL of 50 ug/m3 when separating the thin brick which is formulated using quartz containing products prior to packing.    e) On or about March 18, 2020, in the hacking area, the hacker was exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica at an eight hour time weighted average of 59.8 ug/m3 which exceeds the OSHA PEL of 50 ug/m3 when stacking wet brick which is formulated using quartz containing products on kiln cars.

Issued

Jul 24, 2020

Abate by

May 31, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

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:  On or about March 17, 2020 and March 18, 2020, the employer did not implement engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain exposure to respirable silica to or below the PEL in:  a) The mill room when working around the mixing, extruding, adding texture and cutting of brick which is formulated and coated with quartz containing products. Employees were exposed to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica at an eight hour time weighted average  between 96.4 ug/m3 and 145.7 ug/m3.  b) The hack area when stacking wet brick which is formulated and coated with quartz containing products on kiln cars. Employees were exposed to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica at an eight hour time weighted average of 59.8 ug/m3.  c) The thin brick tear down area when separating the thin brick which is formulated using quartz containing products prior to packing. Employees were exposed to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica at an eight hour time weighted average of 54.2 ug/m3.

Issued

Jul 24, 2020

Abate by

Sep 8, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,494 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

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:    On or about March 4, 2020, in the mill room, the employer did not ensure that employees who were required to wear tight fitting half-faced air purifying respirators when working in the mill room were clean shaven to allow for a good facepiece to skin seal. Employees were exposed to chemicals such as respirable crystalline silica which is included in shale and sand.

Issued

Jul 24, 2020

Abate by

Aug 18, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,494 · Current $11,245 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(d)(3)(i): The employer did not perform initial monitoring to assess the 8-hour TWA exposure for each employee on the basis of one or more personal breathing zone air samples that reflect the exposures of employees on each shift, for each job classification, in each work area:    On or about March 4, 2020, the employer did not perform initial monitoring to assess 8- hour TWA exposure for the cutter operator, the texture person and the housekeeping employee when working with and cleaning up quartz containing products. Employees were exposed to inhalation hazards which may result in health effects such as silicosis.

Issued

Jul 24, 2020

Abate by

Sep 9, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(d)(3)(iv): Where the most recent exposure monitoring indicated that employee exposures were above the PEL, the employer did not repeat such monitoring within three months of the most recent monitoring:  On or about March 4, 2020, the employer did perform exposure monitoring every three months for the mill operator and thin brick tear down employees when the most recent personal exposure monitoring indicated employees were exposed above the OSHA PEL for airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica of 50 ug/m3.

Issued

Jul 24, 2020

Abate by

Sep 9, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(d)(3)(iii): Where the most recent exposure monitoring indicated that employee exposures were at or above the action level but at or below the PEL, the employer did not repeat such monitoring within six months of the most recent monitoring:  On or about March 4, 2020, the employer did not perform exposure monitoring every six months for the shapes department employees when the most recent personal exposure monitoring indicated employees were exposed above the OSHA AL for airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica of 25 ug/m3.

Issued

Jul 24, 2020

Abate by

Aug 4, 2020

Penalty

Initial $13,494 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

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:    On or about March 18, 2020, the employer did not designate the hack area in the facility where employees stack wet brick which is formulated using quartz containing products as a regulated area when employees were exposed to airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica at an eight hour time weighted average of 59.8 ug/m3 which exceeds the OSHA PEL of 50 ug/m3.

Issued

Jul 24, 2020

Abate by

Aug 4, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(g)(1)(iv): Respiratory protection was not provided during periods when the employee was in a regulated area:    On or about March 18, 2020, hack area, the employer did not provide respiratory protection to employees (hackers) responsible for stacking wet brick which is formulated using quartz containing products on to kiln cars. Employees were exposed to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica at an eight hour time weighted average of 59.8 ug/m3 which exceeds the OSHA PEL of 50 ug/m3.