OSHA Inspection: TEXAS MATERIALS GROUP INC.

Issued

Oct 30, 2023

Penalty

Initial $5,625 · Current $5,625

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.23(d)(1): The employer did not provide fixed ladders that are capable of supporting their maximum intended load.  On or about June 21, 2023 at the facility, employees were exposed to a fall hazard while using a fixed ladder that led to the cone feed belt platform that was damaged effecting it's maximum intended load.

Issued

Oct 30, 2023

Abate by

Apr 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $7,032 · Current $3,516 Reduced

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:  On or about July 25, 2023, throughout the facility, employees were exposed to eight hour time weighted averages between 96.4 and 89.0 decibels before an effective hearing conservation program had been implemented.

Issued

Oct 30, 2023

Abate by

Apr 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,218 · Current $4,218

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    On or about June 21, 2023, and at times prior thereto, when employees throughout the facility were exposed to respiration hazards while wearing tight fitting half face respirators without having been medically evaluated.

Issued

Oct 30, 2023

Abate by

Apr 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator:  On or about June 21, 2023, and at times prior thereto, throughout the facility, employees were required to wear tight fitting half face respirators without having been fit tested.

Issued

Oct 30, 2023

Abate by

Apr 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $7,032 · Current $7,032

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(d)(1): Pulley(s) with part(s) seven feet or less from the floor or work platform were not guarded in accordance with the requirements specified in 29 CFR 1910.219(m) and (o):  On or about June 21, 2023, on the west side of the cone feed conveyor, employees were exposed to a caught-by hazard while working near the cone feed conveyor without a guard covering lower portion of the conveyor belt pulley.

Issued

Oct 30, 2023

Abate by

Apr 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(e)(1)(i): Horizontal belts which had both runs seven feet or less from the floor level were not guarded with a guard that extended to at least fifteen inches above the belt:  On or about June 21, 2023, on the west side of the cone feed conveyor where employees were exposed to a caught-by hazard while working near the cone feed conveyor without a guard covering lower portion of the conveyor belt.

Issued

Oct 30, 2023

Abate by

Apr 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $9,844 · Current $6,891 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(c): Permissible exposure limit (PEL). 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 time-weighted average (TWA).  On or about July 25, 2023, near the cone feed conveyor area, an employee picking debris off the cone feed conveyor belt was exposed to 75 ?g/m3 respirable crystalline silica over an 8 hour Time Weighted Average.

Issued

Oct 30, 2023

Abate by

Apr 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  On or about July 25, 2023, near the cone feed conveyor area, an employee picking debris off the cone feed conveyor belt was exposed to 75 ?g/m3 respirable crystalline silica over an 8 hour Time Weighted Average without the employer determining feasible administrative or engineering controls to limit the employee exposure.

Issued

Oct 30, 2023

Abate by

Apr 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $9,844 · Current $9,844

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(d)(3)(iv): Where the most recent exposure monitoring indicated that employee exposures were above the PEL, the employer did not repeat such monitoring within three months of the most recent monitoring:  On or about July 25, 2023, and at times prior thereto, throughout the facility when an employee was overexposed to respirable silica above the PEL after the employer's most recent exposure monitoring in 2017 indicated that an employee was exposed above the PEL and the employer never repeated the monitoring.

Issued

Oct 30, 2023

Abate by

Apr 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $9,844 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(2)(i): The employer did not establish and implement a written exposure control plan:  On or about July 25, 2023, near the cone feed conveyor area, an employee picking debris off the cone feed conveyor belt was exposed to 75 ?g/m3 respirable crystalline silica over an 8 hour Time Weighted Average without the establishing and implementing a written exposure control plan.