OSHA Inspection: K&N ENGINEERING INC

Issued

Oct 28, 2021

Abate by

Nov 24, 2021

Penalty

Initial $9,753 · Current $5,852 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(d)(1): When information indicated that any employee's exposure equaled or exceed the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer did not develop and implement a monitoring program:  On or about May 19, 2021, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not implement a monitoring program in the Surface Preparation Room for employees exposed to noise above the 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.  (a) A surface preparation worker in the Surface Preparation Room was exposed to continuous noise levels at 120% of the permissible time weighted average (TWA) of 83.4 dBA. The equivalent decibel (dBA) level of 120% is approximately 91.1 dBA. Sampling was performed for 562 minutes during one shift. Zero exposure was assumed for the 38 minutes not sampled.    Note: The 8-hour TWA sound level of 85 dBA, which triggers the requirement of a hearing conservation program (HCP), can be adjusted for work shifts less than or longer than 8 hours. When making the adjustment the following formula is used: AL = 16.61 log10 [50/(12.5)(hours)]+ 90. Affected employees worked a 10 hour work shift.  Therefore, the TWA sound level that the triggers the requirement for a hearing conservation program was reduced to 83.4 dBA.  (b) A surface preparation worker in the Surface Preparation Room was exposed to continuous noise levels at 83.3% of the permissible time weighted average (TWA) of 83.4 dBA. The equivalent decibel (dBA) level of 83.3% is approximately 88.6 dBA. Sampling was performed for 559 minutes during one shift. Zero exposure was assumed for the 41 minutes not sampled.    Note: The 8-hour TWA sound level of 85 dBA, which triggers the requirement of a hearing conservation program (HCP), can be adjusted for work shifts less than or longer than 8 hours. When making the adjustment the following formula is used: AL = 16.61 log10 [50/(12.5)(hours)]+ 90. Affected employees worked a 10 hour work shift.  Therefore, the TWA sound level that the triggers the requirement for a hearing conservation program was reduced to 83.4 dBA.  (c) A surface preparation worker in the Surface Preparation Room was exposed to continuous noise levels at 81% of the permissible time weighted average (TWA) of 83.4 dBA.  The equivalent decibel (dBA) level of 81% is approximately 88.4 dBA. Sampling was performed for 563 minutes during one shift. Zero exposure was assumed for the 37 minutes not sampled.   Note: The 8-hour TWA sound level of 85 dBA, which triggers the requirement of a hearing conservation program (HCP), can be adjusted for work shifts less than or longer than 8 hours. When making the adjustment the following formula is used: AL = 16.61 log10 [50/(12.5)(hours)]+ 90. Affected employees worked a 10 hour work shift.  Therefore, the TWA sound level that the triggers the requirement for a hearing conservation program was reduced to 83.4 dBA.  (d) A surface preparation worker in the Surface Preparation Room was exposed to continuous noise levels at 70.3% of the permissible time weighted average (TWA) of 83.4 dBA. The equivalent decibel (dBA) level of 70.3% is approximately 87.4 dBA. Sampling was performed for 563 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the 37 minutes not sampled.   Note: The 8-hour TWA sound level of 85 dBA, which triggers the requirement of a hearing conservation program (HCP), can be adjusted for work shifts less than or longer than 8 hours. When making the adjustment the following formula is used: AL = 16.61 log10 [50/(12.5)(hours)]+ 90. Affected employees worked a 10 hour work shift.  Therefore, the TWA sound level that the triggers the requirement for a hearing conservation program was reduced to 83.4 dBA.  (e) A surface preparation worker in the Surface Preparation Room was exposed to continuous noise levels at 108% of the permissible time weighted average (TWA) of 83.4 dBA. The equivalent decibel (dBA) level of 108% is approximately 90.5 dBA. Sampling was performed for 566 minutes during one shift.  Zero exposure was assumed for the 34 minutes not sampled.    Note: The 8-hour TWA sound level of 85 dBA, which triggers the requirement of a hearing conservation program (HCP), can be adjusted for work shifts less than or longer than 8 hours. When making the adjustment the following formula is used: AL = 16.61 log10 [50/(12.5)(hours)]+ 90. Affected employees worked a 10 hour work shift.  Therefore, the TWA sound level that the triggers the requirement for a hearing conservation program was reduced to 83.4 dBA.

Issued

Oct 28, 2021

Abate by

Nov 24, 2021

Penalty

Initial $9,753 · Current $5,852 Reduced

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:  (a) On or about May 13, 2021, and at times prior thereto, in the surface preparation room, where the employer allowed employees to use half face elastomeric respirators and powered air purifying respirators without providing those employees a medical evaluation to determine their fitness to wear a respirator.

Issued

Oct 28, 2021

Abate by

Nov 24, 2021

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):  (a) On or about May 13, 2021, in the Surface Preparation Department, two (2) employees were allowed to wear  3M half mask elastomeric respirators while conducting aluminum tube surface roughening work without requiring those employees to pass a qualitative fit test or quantitative fit test.

Issued

Oct 28, 2021

Abate by

Nov 24, 2021

Penalty

Initial $9,753 · Current $5,852 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.212(b):Machine(s) designed for fixed location(s) were not securely anchored to prevent walking or moving:  (a) On or about May 13, 2021, and at times prior thereto, in the surface preparation room, where Burr King belt sanders were not bolted to the floor and employees were exposed to crushed by hazards.

Issued

Oct 28, 2021

Abate by

Nov 24, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $8,192 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.213(p)(4):Belt sanding machinery was not provided with a guard at each nip point where the sanding belt ran onto a pulley, to prevent the operator's hands or fingers from coming into contact with nip points:  (a) On or about May 13, 2021, and at times prior thereto,  in the Surface Preparation Room where the employer did not provide a guard on the belts of five (5) Burr King belt sanders where the belt ran onto the bottom pulley.  Employees were exposed to nip point hazards.