OSHA Inspection: GRANITE MASTERS OF COLUMBUS LLC

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

Sep 25, 2023

Penalty

Initial $3,315 · Current $1,661 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(c)(1): The employer shall administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program, as described in paragraphs (c) through (o) of this section, whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (slow response) or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent. For purposes of the hearing conservation program, employee noise exposures shall be computed in accordance with appendix A and Table G-16a, and without regard to any attenuation provided by the use of personal protective equipment.   a. The employer did not develop and implement a hearing conservation program for employees working in the finishing area. A Polisher employee was exposed to continuous noise at 72.64% on November 30, 2021, which exceeded the action limit (AL) of 50%, an 8-hour TWA (time weighted average) sound level of 85 dBA. The employee's 8-hour TWA sound level was approximately 87.6 dBA during the 421 minute sampling period. Time weighted average includes a zero increment for the 59 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

Sep 25, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1): When information indicates that any employee's exposure may equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer shall develop and implement a monitoring program.  a. The employer did not develop and implement a noise monitoring program for employees working in the finishing area. A Polisher employee was exposed to continuous noise at 72.64% on November 30, 2021, which exceeded the action limit (AL) of 50%, an 8-hour TWA (time weighted average) sound level of 85 dBA. The employee's 8-hour TWA sound level was approximately 87.6 dBA during the 421 minute sampling period. Time weighted average includes a zero increment for the 59 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(1): The employer shall establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided in this paragraph by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.  a. The employer did not develop and implement an audiometric testing program for employees working in the finishing area. A Polisher employee was exposed to continuous noise at 72.64% on November 30, 2021, which exceeded the action limit (AL) of 50%, an 8-hour TWA (time weighted average) sound level of 85 dBA. The employee's 8-hour TWA sound level was approximately 87.6 dBA during the 421 minute sampling period. Time weighted average includes a zero increment for the 59 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

Sep 25, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1): The employer shall train each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time weighted average of 85 decibels in accordance with the requirements of this section. The employer shall institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the program.  a. The employer did not develop and implement a noise training program for employees working in the finishing area. A Polisher employee was exposed to continuous noise at 72.64% on November 30, 2021, which exceeded the action limit (AL) of 50%, an 8-hour TWA (time weighted average) sound level of 85 dBA. The employee's 8-hour TWA sound level was approximately 87.6 dBA during the 421 minute sampling period. Time weighted average includes a zero increment for the 59 minutes not sampled.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

Sep 25, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $2,900 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(d)(1):Exposure assessment-(1) General. The employer shall assess the exposure of each employee who is 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.  a. On or before November 30, 2021, the employer did not assess the respirable crystalline silica exposure of polishers and fabricators.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

Sep 25, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $2,900 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(e)(1): Regulated areas-(1) Establishment. The employer shall establish a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica is, or can reasonably be expected to be, in excess of the PEL.  a. On or about November 30, 2021, the employer did not establish regulated areas for areas where employees were exposed to respirable crystalline silica above the Permissible Exposure Limit.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

Sep 25, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $2,900 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(f)(2)(i): Written exposure control plan. (i) The employer shall establish and implement a written exposure control plan that contains at least the following elements:   a. On or before November 30, 2021, the employer did not develop and implement a written exposure control plan for employees exposed to respirable crystalline silica in the workplace such as, but not limited to, saw operators.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

Sep 25, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $2,900 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(g)(2): Respiratory protection program. Where respirator use is required by this section, the employer shall institute a respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134.   a. On or before November 30, 2021, the employer did not develop and implement a respiratory protection program for employees exposed to respirable crystalline silica above the Permissible Exposure Limit.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

Sep 25, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(1):In any workplace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer, the employer shall establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures. The program shall be updated as necessary to reflect those changes in workplace conditions that affect respirator use. The employer shall include in the program the following provisions of this section, as applicable:  a. On or before November 30, 2021, the employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program for employees who were required to wear respirators.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(e)(1): General. The employer shall provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace. The employer may discontinue an employee's medical evaluations when the employee is no longer required to use a respirator.   a. On or before November 30, 2021, the employer did not provide a medical evaluation for employees who were required to wear respirators.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

Jul 31, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(2): The employer shall ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator is fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) is used, and at least annually thereafter.   a. On or before November 30, 2021, the employer did not provide a fit test for employees who were required to wear respirators.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

Sep 25, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(k): Training and information. This paragraph requires the employer to provide effective training to employees who are required to use respirators. The training must be comprehensive, understandable, and recur annually, and more often if necessary. This paragraph also requires the employer to provide the basic information on respirators in Appendix D of this section to employees who wear respirators when not required by this section or by the employer to do so.   a. On or before November 30, 2021, the employer did not develop and implement a respiratory protection training program for employees who were required to wear respirators.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

Sep 25, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(c):Permissible exposure limit (PEL). The employer shall ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica in excess of 50 ug/m3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA.  On or about November 30, 2021, employees working in the production area were exposed to respirable crystalline silica in excess of the 8-hour time weighted average limit (TWA) for the permissible exposure limit:  a. A Machine Operator employee performing granite cutting duties was exposed to an 8-hour TWA for respirable crystalline quartz silica of 99.21 micrograms per cubic meter air during a 429 minute sampling period. This exposure level was 1.98 times the permissible exposure limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter air.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

Sep 25, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(f)(1): Methods of compliance-(1) Engineering and work practice controls. The employer shall 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. Wherever such feasible engineering and work practice controls are not sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the PEL, the employer shall nonetheless use them to reduce employee exposure to the lowest feasible level and shall supplement them with the use of respiratory protection that complies with the requirements of paragraph (g) of this section.   On or about November 30, 2021, employees working in the production area were exposed to respirable crystalline silica in excess of the 8-hour time weighted average limit (TWA) for the permissible exposure limit:  a. A Machine Operator employee performing granite cutting duties was exposed to an 8-hour TWA for respirable crystalline quartz silica of 99.21 micrograms per cubic meter air during a 429 minute sampling period. This exposure level was 1.98 times the permissible exposure limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter air.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

Sep 25, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $2,900 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(i)(1)(i): Medical surveillance-(1) General. (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.  On or about November 30, 2021, employees working in the polishing area and the fabrication area were exposed to respirable crystalline silica in excess of the 8-hour time weighted average limit (TWA) for the action limit, and the employer did not provide these employees with medical surveillance:  a. A Machine Operator employee performing granite cutting duties was exposed to an 8-hour TWA for respirable crystalline quartz silica of 99.21 micrograms per cubic meter air during a 429 minute sampling period. This exposure level was 1.98 times the permissible exposure limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter air.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

Sep 25, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,801 · Current $2,900 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(j)(1): Communication of respirable crystalline silica hazards to employees-(1) Hazard communication. The employer shall include respirable crystalline silica in the program established to comply with the hazard communication standard (HCS) (29 CFR 1910.1200). The employer shall ensure that each employee has access to labels on containers of crystalline silica and safety data sheets, and is trained in accordance with the provisions of HCS and paragraph (j)(3) of this section. The employer shall ensure that at least the following hazards are addressed: Cancer, lung effects, immune system effects, and kidney effects.   a. On or before November 30, 2021, the employer did not develop and implement a hazard communication program that included the hazards of silica exposure.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

Sep 25, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1): Employers shall develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met, and which also includes the following:   a. On or before November 30, 2021, the employer did not develop and implement a hazard communication program for employee exposure to hazardous chemicals in their work area such as, but not limited to, crystalline silica.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

Sep 25, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(g)(8): The employer shall maintain in the workplace copies of the required safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical, and shall ensure that they are readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they are in their work area(s). (Electronic access and other alternatives to maintaining paper copies of the safety data sheets are permitted as long as no barriers to immediate employee access in each workplace are created by such options.)   a. On or before November 30, 2021, the employer did not maintain safety data sheets for hazardous chemicals in the workplace such as, but not limited to, crystalline silica.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

Sep 25, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employers shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new chemical hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area. Information and training may be designed to cover categories of hazards (e.g., flammability, carcinogenicity) or specific chemicals. Chemical-specific information must always be available through labels and safety data sheets.  a. On or before November 30, 2021, the employer did not provide training to employees on hazardous chemicals in their work area such as, but not limited to, crystalline silica.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

Sep 25, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(j)(2): Signs. The employer shall 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. On or about November 30, 2021, the employer did not post signs at regulated areas to warn employees of silica exposure hazards.

Issued

Mar 14, 2022

Abate by

Sep 25, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(2):The employer shall verify that the required workplace hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification that identifies the workplace evaluated; the person certifying that the evaluation has been performed; the date(s) of the hazard assessment; and, which identifies the document as a certification of hazard assessment.  a. On or before November 30, 2021, the employer did not document the workplace hazard assessment through a written certification.