OSHA Inspection: CKS PACKAGING, INC

Issued

Feb 10, 2023

Abate by

Apr 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $13,394 · Current $8,036 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(g)(5)(ii): Where mobile test vans were used to meet the audiometric testing obligation, the employer did not obtain a valid baseline audiogram within 1 year of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level:  On or about December 8, 2022, and at the time prior thereto, at the CKS Packaging Alliance facility, the employer did not obtain a baseline audiogram for each employee working in the production lines where hearing protection was required, and noise levels exceeded the action level of 85 dBA (50% of the permissible dose).   Employee #3 was exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) noise level of 92.2 dBA (177.9 % of the permissible daily dose). Sound level exposure was collected during 499-minute sampling. The employee did not have a new audiogram within the past year.

Issued

Feb 10, 2023

Abate by

Apr 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(g)(6): At least annually after obtaining the baseline audiogram, the employer did not obtain a new audiogram for each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:  On or about December 8, 2022, and at the time prior thereto, at the CKS Packaging Alliance facility, the employer did not obtain a yearly audiogram for each employee working in the production lines where hearing protection was required and noise levels exceeded the action level of 85 dBA (50% of the permissible dose).   a. Employee #1 was exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) noise level of 90.8 dBA (148.0 % of the permissible daily dose). Sound level exposure was collected during 488-minute sampling. The employee did not have a new audiogram within the past year. The last employee's audiometric test was on April 12, 2019.  b. Employee #2 was exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) noise level of 91.6 dBA (165.8 % of the permissible daily dose). Sound level exposure was collected during 483-minute sampling. The employee did not have a new audiogram within the past year. The last employee's audiometric test was on April 12, 2019.  c. Employee #3 was exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) noise level of 92.2 dBA (177.9 % of the permissible daily dose). Sound level exposure was collected during 499-minute sampling. The employee did not have a new audiogram within the past year.

Issued

Feb 10, 2023

Abate by

Apr 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(g)(7)(i): Each employee's annual audiogram was not compared to that employee's baseline audiogram to determine if a standard threshold shift as defined in 29 CFR 1910.95(g)(10) has occurred:  On or about December 8, 2022, and at the time prior thereto, at the CKS Packaging Alliance facility did not evaluate the employee's annual audiogram with a baseline audiogram to determine whether employees exhibited a standard threshold shift (STS) for each employee working in the production lines where hearing protection was required, and noise levels exceeded the action level of 85 dBA (50% of the permissible dose).   a. Employee #1 was exposed to continuous noise at an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 90.8 dBA (148.0 % of the permissible daily dose). Sound level exposure was collected during 488-minute sampling. The last employee's audiometric test was on April 12, 2019.  b. Employee #2 was exposed to continuous noise at an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 91.6 dBA (165.8 % of the permissible daily dose). Sound level exposure was collected during 483-minute sampling. The last employee's audiometric test was on April 12, 2019.  c. Employee #3 was exposed to continuous noise at an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 92.2 dBA (177.9 % of the permissible daily dose). Sound level exposure was collected during 499-minute sampling. The employer did not provide the employee's audiometric test.

Issued

Feb 10, 2023

Abate by

Apr 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $2,232 · Current $1,339 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1904.10(a): The employer did not record all cases on the OSHA 300 Log when an employee's hearing test (audiogram) revealed that the employee had experienced a work-related Standard Threshold Shift (STS) in hearing in one or both ears, and the employee's total hearing level is 25 decibels (dB) or more above audiometric zero (averaged at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz) in the same ear(s) as the STS.  On or about September 29, 2022, and at the time prior thereto, at the CKS Packaging Alliance facility, the employer did not record work-related hearing loss illness on the OSHA 300 log form for the calendar year 2022 when the employee's ears declined from their 2014 baseline audiogram while working in the production lines at noise levels exceeding the action level of 85 dBA (50% of the permissible dose). Audiogram calculations showed an age-adjusted standard threshold shift (STS) of 12.33 dB in the left ear and 10.66 dB in the right ear when comparing the 2022 current audiogram to the original baseline audiogram at 2000 Hz, 3000 Hz, and 4000 Hz. The current audiogram showed an average hearing level at 2000 Hz, 3000 Hz, and 4000 Hz of 43.3 dB in the left ear and 46.7 dB in the right ear.

Issued

Feb 10, 2023

Abate by

Apr 3, 2023

Penalty

Initial $1,253 · Current $752 Reduced

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(m)(3)(ii): The employer did not retain audiometric test records for the duration of the affected employee's employment as required by 29 CFR 1910.95(m):  On or about December 8, 2022, and at the time prior thereto, at the CKS Packaging Alliance facility, the employer did not retain audiometric test records for the duration of the affected employee's employment.   a. Employee #1 was exposed to continuous noise at an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 90.8 dBA (148.0 % of the permissible daily dose). Sound level exposure was collected during 488-minute sampling. The last employee's audiometric test was on April 12, 2019.  b. Employee #2 was exposed to continuous noise at an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 91.6 dBA (165.8 % of the permissible daily dose). Sound level exposure was collected during 483-minute sampling. The last employee's audiometric test was on April 12, 2019.  c. Employee #3 was exposed to continuous noise at an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 92.2 dBA (177.9 % of the permissible daily dose). Sound level exposure was collected during 499-minute sampling. The employer did not provide the employee's audiometric test.