OSHA Inspection: TEXAS GRANITE

Issued

Jun 16, 2021

Abate by

Sep 13, 2021

Penalty

Initial $4,096 · Current $2,253 Reduced

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:  In the�following instances,�two employees�were exposed�to silica�in excess�of the�permissible exposure�level (PEL)�for the�8-hour time�weighted average�concentration:   a.���An employee�who was�cutting and�grinding granite was exposed�to silica�at a�time weighted�average of�147 ug/m3.��This level�exceed the�permissible exposure�level for�silica of�50ug/m3 by�2.94 times.��This exposure�was derived�from samples�collected over�a 458�minute sampling�period on�April 8, 2021.��  b.���An employee�who was�cutting and�grinding granite was exposed�to silica�at a�time weighted�average of�453 ug/m3.��This level�exceed the�permissible exposure�level for�silica of�50ug/m3 by�9.06 times.��This exposure�was derived�from samples�collected over�a 457�minute sampling�period on�April 8, 2021.

Issued

Jun 16, 2021

Abate by

Aug 13, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 April 8, 2021, employees were exposed to respirable silica above the permissible exposure limit while cutting and grinding granite without engineering or work practice controls in place to reduce employee exposure.

Issued

Jun 16, 2021

Abate by

Sep 13, 2021

Penalty

Initial $4,096 · Current $0 Reduced

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 April 8, 2021, employees�were exposed�to respirable�crystalline silica�while cutting and grinding�granite without the�employer having�assessed the�exposure of�each employee.

Issued

Jun 16, 2021

Abate by

Aug 13, 2021

Penalty

Initial $2,926 · Current $1,609 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(f)(2)(i):The employer did not establish and implement a written exposure control plan:  On or about April 8 2021, employees were exposed to respirable crystalline silica while cutting and grinding granite when the employer did not have a written and implemented exposure control plan.

Issued

Jun 16, 2021

Abate by

Aug 13, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(j)(1): The employer did not include respirable crystalline silica in the program established to comply with the hazard communication standard (HCS) (29 CFR 1910.1200):     On or about April 8 2021, employees were cutting and grinding granite and were not trained on the health hazards of respirable crystalline silica.

Issued

Jun 16, 2021

Abate by

Aug 2, 2021

Penalty

Initial $2,926 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(h)(2)(i): The employer allowed compressed air to be used to clean clothing or surfaces where such activity could contribute to employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica without being used in conjunction with a ventilation system to capture blown dust:   On or about April 8 2021, employees were exposed to silica hazards when using compressed air to clean and remove debris from the surface of granite after they cut, ground, and polished the product.

Issued

Jun 16, 2021

Abate by

Aug 13, 2021

Penalty

Initial $4,096 · Current $2,253 Reduced

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 April 8, 2021, in the�shop area,�employees were�exposed to�respiratory hazards�while wearing filtering�facepiece respirators�while cutting, grinding, and polishing granite without the�employer having�an established�written respiratory�protection program.

Issued

Jun 16, 2021

Abate by

Aug 13, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  On or about April 8, 2021, in the�shop area,�employees were�exposed to�respiratory hazards�while wearing filtering�facepiece respirators�while cutting, grinding, and polishing granite without the�employer having�a�written respiratory�protection program.

Issued

Jun 16, 2021

Abate by

Aug 13, 2021

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:   On or about April 8, 2021, in the�shop area,�employees were�exposed to respiratory�hazards while�wearing�filtering facepiece�respirators without�having been�medically evaluated.

Issued

Jun 16, 2021

Abate by

Aug 13, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator:  On or about April 8, 2021, in the�shop area,�employees were�exposed to respiratory�hazards while�wearing�filtering facepiece�respirators without�having been fit tested.

Issued

Jun 16, 2021

Abate by

Sep 13, 2021

Penalty

Initial $4,096 · Current $2,253 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(i)(1)(i): The employer did not make medical surveillance available at no cost to each employee, and at a reasonable time and place, for each employee who has been occupationally exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year:   On or about April 8, 2021, medical surveillance had not been made available for employees that where exposed to respirable crystalline silica while cutting and grinding granite.

Issued

Jun 16, 2021

Abate by

Aug 13, 2021

Penalty

Initial $2,341 · Current $1,132 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1):Employer had not developed or implemented a written hazard communication program included the requirements outlined in 29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1)(i) and (e)(1)(ii):   On or about April 8, 2021, employees were exposed to chemical hazards while working with chemicals, such as but not limited to, K Bond Vivid vinyl ester adhesive, acetone, and silica, without a written hazard communication program being developed and implemented.

Issued

Jun 16, 2021

Abate by

Aug 13, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 April 8, 2021, employees were exposed to chemical hazards while working with chemicals, such as but not limited to, K Bond Vivid vinyl ester adhesive, acetone, and silica, without the employer having safety data sheets for the chemicals used.