OSHA Inspection: KEMNA TILE INC.

Issued

2022-03-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-03-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7252.00 · Current $4351.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 00401560

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.106(e)(2)(ii)(b)(2): More than 120 gallons of Category 2, 3, or 4 flammable or combustible liquids in containers were located outside of inside storage room(s) or storage cabinet(s):  (a) On or about December 22, 2021 and times prior thereto, in the Terrazzo shop and chemical storage area, the employer had 275 gallons of category 2 flammable liquids  exposing employees to explosion and fire hazards.

Issued

2022-03-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-03-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 0040

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(e)(6)(ii): Category 1 or 2 flammable liquids, or Category 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100 degrees F (37.8  degrees C), were dispensed into containers without the nozzle and container being electrically interconnected:  (a) On or about December 22, 2021, in the Terrazzo shop and chemical storage area, employees dispensed category 2 flammable liquids into a plastic container and the nozzle and container were not electrically interconnected exposing employees to explosion and fire hazards.

Issued

2022-03-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-03-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5801.00 · Current $3481.00 Reduced

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 December 21, 2021, in the Marble shop, employees were exposed to amputation hazards while working with portable hand grinders.

Issued

2022-03-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-03-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7252.00 · Current $4351.00 Reduced

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)  A grinder employee was performing hand grinding operations and was exposed to respirable crystalline silica at an eight-hour time-weighted average of 322.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, approximately 6.45 times 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air. This limit is established to prevent silicosis and lung cancer. Sampling was performed for 430 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time of 50 minutes.

Issued

2022-03-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-03-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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:  (a) The employer not determine if any portable hand grinder employees may be exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level. Portable hand grinder employees were assigned to perform grinding operations on marble and quartz countertops. Personal air monitoring indicated that employee(s) were exposed to airborne crystalline silica concentrations of 322.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, 32 micrograms per cubic meter of air, and 28.9 micrograms per cubic meter of air which exceeded the action level of 25 micrograms per cubic meter of air  by approximately 6.45, 1.28, and 1.15 times respectively.

Issued

2022-03-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-03-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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)  A grinder employee was performing hand grinding operations and was exposed to respirable crystalline silica at an eight-hour time-weighted average of 322.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air, approximately 6.45 times 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air. This limit is established to prevent silicosis and lung cancer. Sampling was performed for 430 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time of 50 minutes.

Issued

2022-03-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-03-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7252.00 · Current $4351.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(e)(1): The employer did not establish a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica was, or could have been reasonably expected to be, in excess of the PEL:   (a) The employer did not establish a regulated area for employee(s) exposed to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica above the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL). Personal air monitoring conducted at the workplace showed that employee(s) were exposed to airborne concentrations of 322.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air which exceeded the PEL of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air by 6.45 times respectively. This limit is established to prevent silicosis and lung cancer. Employee(s) were assigned duties such as but not limited to grinding and cutting granite countertops.

Issued

2022-03-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-03-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5801.00 · Current $3481.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

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 December 22, 2021, and times prior thereto,  the employer did not provide a medical evaluation for employee(s) who were required to wear a N95 respirator. Employee(s) used this respirator for protection against respirable crystalline silica dust.

Issued

2022-03-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-03-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator were not annually fit tested:   (a) On or about December 22, 2021 and times prior thereto; the employer did not provide a fit test for employee(s) who were required to wear a N95 respirator. Employee(s) used this respirator for protection against respirable crystalline silica dust.

Issued

2022-03-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-03-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7252.00 · Current $4351.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

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:   (a) On or about December 22, 2021 and times prior thereto; the employer did not institute a medical surveillance program for all employee(s) who were exposed respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level for 30 days per year. Personal air monitoring indicated that three employees were exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica concentrations which exceeded the action limit (AL). Employees were assigned duties such as but not limited to portable hand grinders.

Issued

2022-03-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-03-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7252.00 · Current $4351.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

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):    (a) On or about December 22, 2021 and times prior thereto; the employer did not assure that employee(s) with airborne exposures to respirable crystalline silica received trained in accordance to the requirements listed in sections 1910.1053(j)(3)(i)(A) -(E). Employees were assigned duties such as but not limited to utilizing  portable hand grinders.

Issued

2022-03-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-03-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:  (a) On or about December 22, 2021, in the marble shop, employees were not trained on the specific health hazards of respirable crystalline silica dust.

Issued

2022-03-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-03-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7252.00 · Current $4351.00 Reduced

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) On or about December 22, 2021 and times prior thereto; the employer not post the following warning signs DANGER- RESPIRABLE CRYSTALLINE SILICA-MAY CAUSE CANCER-CAUSES DAMAGE TO LUNGS- WEAR RESPIRATORY PROTECTION IN THIS AREA- AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY, at the entrance of the Marble shop where the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) were exceeded. Personal air monitoring conducted at the workplace showed that employee(s) were exposed to airborne concentrations of 322.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air,  which exceeded the PEL of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air by 6.45 times respectively. This limit is established to prevent silicosis and lung cancer.