OSHA Inspection: C & C SAGE, INC.

Issued

Aug 13, 2020

Abate by

Sep 30, 2020

Penalty

Initial $4,453 · Current $4,453

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2): The floor of each workroom is maintained in a clean and, to the extent feasible, in a dry condition.  When wet processes are used, drainage must be maintained and, to the extent feasible, dry standing places, such as false floors, platforms, and mats must be provided.   On or about March 6th, 2020, and at times prior thereto, water from water-fed polishing hand tools and abrasive blasting CNC machinery accumulated on the production floor due to unmaintained and clogged drainage grooves, exposing employees to the hazard of slipping and falling.

Issued

Aug 13, 2020

Abate by

Aug 25, 2020

Penalty

Initial $4,453 · Current $4,453

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.133(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation:  a) On or about March 25th, 2020, an employee using a handheld angle grinder on a stone product was not wearing eye protection, exposing the employee to the hazard of being struck by flying particles.  b) On or about March 25th, 2020, employees was utilized compressed air to dry and clean stone products without the use of eye protection, exposing employees to the hazard of being struck by flying particles.

Issued

Aug 13, 2020

Penalty

Initial $7,422 · Current $7,422

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(a)(6): The employer did not ensure that all nameplates or markings were maintained in a legible condition:  On or about March 26th, 2020, and at times prior thereto, the capacity plate ratings and markings on a Toyota forklift were illegible due to wear, exposing employees to the hazard of tipping over a forklift.

Issued

Aug 13, 2020

Abate by

Sep 9, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(m)(5)(i): When a powered industrial truck is left unattended, load engaging means were not fully lowered, controls were not neutralized, power was not shut off, and brakes set:  On or about March 26th, 2020, a forklift was left unattended while still having the load engaging means and attachments raised, exposing employees to the hazard of being struck by the vehicle or load engaging means.

Issued

Aug 13, 2020

Abate by

Sep 30, 2020

Penalty

Initial $10,390 · Current $10,390

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(o)(1): The employer did not ensure that only stable or safely arranged loads were handled:  On or about February 28th, 2020, and at times prior thereto and thereafter, employees utilized a clamp connected to a forklift boom attachment to move stone slabs. The clamp was used to move a Bianco Antico stone slab, but the load was unstable and not safely arranged which caused the stone to drop out of the clamp, exposing employees to the hazards of being struck by the load.   a) The clamp was incorrectly positioned on top of the stone due to damage resulting from repeated handling from previous distributors in the product's transportation. The clamp was attached at an angle which caused it to shift under the stone's weight during lifting, causing reduced load stability and contributing to the stone slab dropping out of the clamp.  b) The clamp had damaged and unmaintained rubber grip pads that reduced the load's stability and contributed to the stone slab dropping out of the clamp.

Issued

Aug 13, 2020

Penalty

Initial $8,906 · Current $8,906

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding was not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:  On or about March 6th, 2020, and at times prior thereto, CNC operator employees were required to walk and work in close proximity to exposed moving parts of a Titan 2800 CNC routing machine, exposing employees to the hazard of getting caught in moving parts.

Issued

Aug 13, 2020

Abate by

Aug 25, 2020

Penalty

Initial $4,453 · Current $4,453

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):  On or about March 25th, 2020, an employee was using a handheld angle grinder without a guard while cutting stone products, exposing the employee to the hazard of contact with moving parts.

Issued

Aug 13, 2020

Abate by

Sep 30, 2020

Penalty

Initial $10,390 · Current $10,390

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) Employee exposure exceeded the 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 ug/m3 for respirable crystalline silica.  This violation was observed on or about March 26, 2020,  employee(s) dry grinding stone products were exposed to an 8-hour TWA concentration of 86.4 ug/m3, approximately 1.7 times the PEL. The exposure was derived from samples collected over a 480 minute period.  b) Employee exposure exceeded the 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 ug/m3 for respirable crystalline silica.  This violation was observed on or about March 26, 2020,  employee(s) wet-polishing stone products were exposed to an 8-hour TWA concentration of 56.0 ug/m3, approximately 1.1 times the PEL. The exposure was derived from samples collected over a 468 minute period. Zero exposure was assumed for the 12 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Aug 13, 2020

Abate by

Sep 9, 2020

Penalty

Initial $10,390 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(j)(3)(i): The employer did ensure that each employee covered by this section could demonstrate knowledge and understanding of 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; the contents of this section; and the purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program required by paragraph (i) of this section:    Employees who were exposed to the hazards of silica while conducting operations such as, but not limited to, dry grinding stone, and wet-polishing stone, did not receive training to ensure they had knowledge of the hazards of silica and protective measures, exposing employees to the health hazards associated with respirable crystalline silica.

Issued

Aug 13, 2020

Abate by

Sep 9, 2020

Penalty

Initial $4,453 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0040

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(1): Employers did not have a safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they use:    On or about March 6th, 2020, and at times prior thereto, employees used hazardous chemicals for which no safety data sheet existed at the jobsite, including but not limited to acetone, exposing employees to inhalation, ingestion and absorption hazards of chemicals.

Issued

Aug 13, 2020

Abate by

Sep 30, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0040

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(2)(iii): The employer did not provide information to the employees as to the location and availability of the written hazard communication program, and material safety data sheets required by 29 CFR 1910.1200:    On or about March 6th, 2020, and at times prior thereto, employees that used hazardous chemicals were unaware of the location of Safety Data Sheets (SDS), exposing employees to inhalation, ingestion and absorption hazards of chemicals.

Issued

Aug 13, 2020

Abate by

Sep 30, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0040

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(ii): Employee training did not include the physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area:    On or about March 6th, 2020, and at times prior thereto, employees were not trained on the hazardous characteristics of chemicals in the workplace, including but not limited to acetone, exposing employees to inhalation, ingestion and absorption hazards of chemicals.

Issued

Aug 13, 2020

Abate by

Sep 30, 2020

Penalty

Initial $103,901 · Current $19,065 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(g)(2): Where respirator use was required by this section, the employer did not institute a respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134:    On or about March 6th, 2020, and at times prior thereto, employees working in the Dry Fabrication Area who performed dry cutting of granite products were required to wear a respirator without the implementation of elements of a written respiratory protection program such as, but not limited to, medical evaluations and fit testing of employees, training, and ensuring a proper seal, exposing employees to the hazards of undue physiological burden and silica inhalation.

Issued

Aug 13, 2020

Abate by

Sep 30, 2020

Penalty

Initial $20,781 · Current $20,781

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(a)(4): Modifications and additions which affect capacity and safe operation of powered industrial truck were performed by the employer without the manufacturer's prior written approval:  a) On or about March 6th, 2020, and at times prior thereto, employees operated a Toyota 7FGU30 forklift equipped with a Caldwell Lif-Truc PB-40 pivoting boom attachment without the manufacturer's written approval, exposing employees to the hazards of tipping over or being ejected from a forklift.  b) On or about March 6th, 2020, and at times prior thereto, employees operated a Nissan MAP1F2A25LV forklift equipped with a Caldwell Lif-Truc PB-40 pivoting boom attachment without the manufacturer's written approval, exposing employees to the hazards of tipping over or being ejected from a forklift.  C & C Sage, Inc., DBA True Blue Granite was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard (1910.178(a)(4)), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1413192, citation number 1, item number 2a, and was affirmed as a final order on January 23rd, 2020, with respect to a workplace located at 3626 Binz-Engleman Rd., San Antonio, TX 78219.

Issued

Aug 13, 2020

Abate by

Sep 30, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(a)(5): The powered industrial truck was equipped with front-end attachments other than factory installed attachments, however the employer did not request that the truck be marked to identify the attachments and show the approximate weight of the truck and attachment combination at maximum elevation with load laterally centered:  a) On or about March 6th, 2020, and at times prior thereto, employees operated a Toyota 7FGU30 forklift equipped with a Caldwell Lif-Truc PB-40 boom without updated capacity plates that reflected the attachment, exposing employees to the hazards of tipping over or being ejected from a forklift.  b) On or about March 6th, 2020, and at times prior thereto, employees operated a Nissan MAP1F2A25LV forklift equipped with a Caldwell Lif-Truc PB-40 boom without updated capacity plates that reflected the attachment, exposing employees to the hazards of tipping over or being ejected from a forklift.  C & C Sage, Inc., DBA True Blue Granite was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard (1910.178(a)(5), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1413192, citation number 1, item number 2b, and was affirmed as a final order on January 23rd, 2020, with respect to a workplace located at 3626 Binz-Engleman Rd., San Antonio, TX 78219.

Issued

Aug 13, 2020

Penalty

Initial $8,906 · Current $8,906

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b): Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i. and effective chip guarding and personal protective equipment was not used.  On or about March 6th, 2020, and at times prior thereto, employees were using compressed air at pressures greater than 30 p.s.i. and without chip guarding to clean manufactured stone products as well as their bodies and clothing, exposing employees to the hazards of being struck by flying debris or particles to the eye(s) and air embolism from the air stream.  The C & C Sage, Inc., DBA True Blue Granite was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.242(b), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1414203, citation number 1, item number 2, and was affirmed as a final order on January 23rd, 2020, with respect to a workplace located at 3626 Binz-Engleman Rd., San Antonio, TX 78219.

Issued

Aug 13, 2020

Abate by

Sep 9, 2020

Penalty

Initial $20,781 · Current $20,781

Hazardous substances 9000

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:  On or about March 6th, 2020, and at times prior thereto, the employer had not conducted silica air sampling for employees that cut and polish stone countertops, exposing employees to the hazard of inhaling silica dust.  C & C Sage, Inc., dba True Blue Granite was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.1053(d)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1414203, citation number 1, item number 3, and was affirmed as a final order on January 23rd, 2020, with respect to a workplace located at 3626 Binz-Engleman Rd., San Antonio, TX 78219.

Issued

Aug 13, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.157(e)(3): Portable fire extinguishers were not subjected to an annual maintenance check:  On or about March 6th, 2020, and at times prior thereto, fire extinguishers at the jobsite had not received maintenance checks within 365 days, exposing employees to the hazard of fire.