OSHA Inspection: WELLS CONCRETE PRODUCTS CO.

Issued

Nov 9, 2023

Abate by

Dec 18, 2023

Penalty

Initial $10,436 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(d)(4): The employer shall reassess exposures whenever a change in the production, process, control equipment, personnel, or work practices may reasonably be expected to result in new or additional exposures at or above the action level, or when the employer has any reason to believe that new or additional exposures at or above the action level have occurred.  a) On or about August 8, 2023, at the establishment located at 111 North Jackson Street, Valders, Wisconsin; in Plant 1, the employer did not reassess employee exposures to respirable crystalline silica while an employee was performing tasks, such as but not limited to grinding chamfers of concrete hollow cores and cleaning the high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, after changes were made to the control equipment, such as but not limited to implementing a commercially available shroud and dust collection system, which could be reasonably expected to result in new or additional exposures at or above the action level, exposing an employee to the hazards associated with respirable crystalline silica.  A Laborer employee was exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 51.4 micrograms per cubic meter (?g/m3) of the respirable crystalline silica, approximately 1.03 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 ?g/m3, and approximately 2.06 times the action level (AL) of 25 ?g/m3. The exposure level was derived from one sample collected over a 264 minute sampling period with zero exposure assumed for the unsampled period of 216 minutes. The dust collection system frequently clogged during the sampling period, requiring the employee to tap the HEPA filter to clean it, creating additional exposure to respirable crystalline silica.

Issued

Nov 9, 2023

Abate by

Dec 11, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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) At the establishment located at 111 North Jackson Street, Valders, Wisconsin; in Plant 1, the employer did not make a medical surveillance available to a Laborer employee that was performing tasks, such as but not limited to grinding chamfers of concrete hollow cores and cleaning high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, where airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica exceeded the action level (AL), exposing an employee to the hazards associated with respirable crystalline silica, such as but not limited to lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, kidney disease, and autoimmune disease.

Issued

Nov 9, 2023

Abate by

Dec 11, 2023

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(j)(3)(i): The employer did ensure that each employee covered by this section could demonstrate knowledge and understanding of  the health hazards associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica; specific tasks in the workplace that could result in exposure to respirable crystalline silica; specific measures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to respirable crystalline silica; the contents of this section; and the purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program required by paragraph (i) of this section:   a) At the establishment located at 111 North Jackson Street, Valders, Wisconsin; in Plant 1, the employer did not ensure that a Laborer employee exposed to respirable crystalline silica above the action level (AL) was provided with information and training on each of the elements outlined in 1910.1053(j)(3)(i)(A)- 1910.1053(J)(3)(i)(E).