OSHA Inspection: UNIVERSAL GALVANIZING, INC.

Issued

Sep 18, 2023

Penalty

Initial $21,875 · Current $21,875

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(i)(2)(ii): The employer did not ensure that hearing protectors are worn by any employee who is exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels or greater:  On or about 31 May 2023 Universal Galvanizing, located at 510 E South 1st Street in Wright City, MO 63390; did not ensure that employees working in high-noise areas were wearing hearing protectors including but not limited to the following instances:  a) Employees working as basket runners in the warehouse area with spin-side tables were exposed to continuous noise levels that were equivalent to 106.9% of the allowable 50% dose for an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). This exposure is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA of 90.9 dBA, exceeding the OSHA Action Level of 85.0 dBA. The sampling time was 508 minutes. Zero exposures were assumed for all unsampled time periods.  b) Employees working as spinners in the warehouse area with spin-side tables were exposed to continuous noise levels that were equivalent to 108.2% of the allowable 50% dose for an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). This exposure is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA of 92 dBA, exceeding the OSHA Action Level of 85.0 dBA. The sampling time was 471 minutes. Zero exposures were assumed for all unsampled time periods.  c) Employees working as spinners and kettlemen in the spin and hot dip warehouse areas were exposed to continuous noise levels that were equivalent to 108.2% of the allowable 50% dose for an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). This exposure is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA of 92 dBA, exceeding the OSHA Action Level of 85.0 dBA. The sampling time was 470 minutes. Zero exposures were assumed for all unsampled time periods.  d) Employees working as hot dip galvanizers in the hot dip area were exposed to continuous noise levels that were equivalent to 107.8% of the allowable 50% dose for an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). This exposure is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA of 91.6 dBA, exceeding the OSHA Action Level of 85.0 dBA. The sampling time was 467 minutes. Zero exposures were assumed for all unsampled time periods.  e) Employees working as spinners and hot dippers in the spin side and hot dip areas were exposed to continuous noise levels that were equivalent to 105.1% of the allowable 50% dose for an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). This exposure is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA of 89.3 dBA, exceeding the OSHA Action Level of 85.0 dBA. The sampling time was 328 minutes. Zero exposures were assumed for all unsampled time periods.  REPEAT-- Universal Galvanizing was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.95(i)(2)(ii) which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1558077, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on 6 January 2022.