OSHA Inspection: CONTINENTAL BRICK COMPANY

Issued

Feb 11, 2022

Abate by

Aug 1, 2022

Penalty

Initial $10,151 · Current $10,151

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 g/m3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA:  (a) Pug Mill:  On August 17, 2021, an employee operating the pug mill during brick manufacturing was exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica at an 8-hour Time Weighted Average of 60.854 micrograms per cubic meter of air for the 424 minute sampling period.  The employee was exposed over the permissible exposure limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air.

Issued

Feb 11, 2022

Abate by

Aug 30, 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:  (a) Pug Mill:  On August 17, 2021, an employee operating the pug mill during brick manufacturing was exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica at an 8-hour Time Weighted Average of 60.854 micrograms per cubic meter of air for the 424 minute sampling period.  The employer did not implement all engineering controls and work practice controls to achieve compliance with the permissible exposure limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air.

Issued

Feb 11, 2022

Abate by

Jun 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

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   (a) Pug Mill:  On August 17, 2021, an employee operating the pug mill during brick manufacturing was exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica at an 8-hour Time Weighted Average of 60.95 micrograms per cubic meter of air for the 424 minute sampling period.  The employer did not have posted signs that included "Respirable Crystalline Silica", "Causes Damage to Lungs", "Wear Respiratory Protection in this Area" and "Authorized Personnel Only".

Issued

Feb 11, 2022

Abate by

Jun 15, 2022

Penalty

Initial $10,151 · Current $10,151

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:  (a) Continental Brick:  On August 17, 2021 and times prior the employer did not conduct periodic monitoring within three months following monitoring conducted in June 2019. The most recent monitoring in 2019 indicated that four employees were exposed to respirable crystalline silica greater than the permissible exposure limit.

Issued

Feb 11, 2022

Abate by

Jun 30, 2022

Penalty

Initial $10,151 · Current $10,151

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(i)(1)(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.  (a) Pug Mill:  On August 17, 2021, an employee operating the pug mill during brick manufacturing was exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica at an 8-hour Time Weighted Average of 60.854 micrograms per cubic meter of air for the 424 minute sampling period.  The employee was exposed over the permissible exposure limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air. The employer did not make medical surveillance available as required.  (b) Sand Mixing Room:  On August 17, 2021, an employee mixing sand in the sand mixing room was exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica at an 8-hour Time Weighted Average of 46.537 micrograms per cubic meter of air for the 436 minute sampling period.  The employee was exposed under the permissible exposure limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air but above the action level of 25 micrograms per cubic meter of air. The employer did not make medical surveillance available as required.

Issued

Feb 11, 2022

Abate by

Jun 13, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c): The employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program with required worksite-specific procedures and elements for required respirator use:    (a) Pug Mill: On August 17, 2021, an employee operating the plug mill during brick manufacturing was exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica at an 8-hour Time Weighted Average of 60.854 micrograms per cubic meter of air for the 424 minute sampling period. The employer did not institute a respiratory protection program to protect workers from airborne silica dust which exceeded the permissible exposure limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air.

Issued

Feb 11, 2022

Abate by

Jun 13, 2022

Penalty

Initial $101,519 · Current $75,124 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:   (a) Pug Mill: On August 17, 2021, an employee operating the plug mill during brick manufacturing was exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica at an 8-hour Time Weighted Average of 60.854 micrograms per cubic meter of air for the 424 minute sampling period. The employer did not institute a respiratory protection program to protect workers from airborne silica dust which exceeded the permissible exposure limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air.