OSHA Inspection: WOODSTOCK SOAPSTONE COMPANY, INC.

Issued

Jun 1, 2023

Abate by

Jul 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $6,250 · Current $3,125 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:  The program shall address and complete the elements described in paragraphs (c) through (o) of this section including, but not limited to, the following:  a)  Administer a hearing conservation program;  b)  Develop and implement a noise monitoring program for employee exposures that may equal or exceed an 8-hour TWA of 85 decibels;  c)  Notify each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour TWA of 85 decibels of the results of monitoring;  d)  Establish a valid baseline audiogram and perform annual audiometric testing of employees exposed at or above an 8-hour TWA of 85 decibels;  e)  Provide hearing protection and institute a training program for all employees who are exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour TWA of 85 decibels.  The training shall be repeated annually.  The training shall include the effects of noise on hearing, the purpose, selection, fitting, use and care of hearing protection, and the purpose and method of audiometric testing.	  Location: Grinding room  On February 24, 2023, an employee who was operating a handheld grinder and router in the fabrication shop was exposed to noise levels at 139.4% of the allowable 8 hour time weighted average sound level (90 dBA).  The equivalent level of the 139.4% is approximately 96.0 dBA which is capable of causing permanent hearing loss.  The sampling was performed for 290 minutes during one work shift on February 24, 2023.  Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time period of 190 minutes.  The employer had not implemented a hearing conservation program as described above for all employees exposed to noise levels greater than 85 dBA.

Issued

Jun 1, 2023

Abate by

Jul 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $3,572 · Current $1,786 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:   Location: Facility  On or about January 19, 2023,  the employer did not have a written respiratory protection program developed or implemented, for employees who were required to use powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs), and voluntary use half-face elastomeric respirators.