OSHA Inspection: W.C. CANNIFF & SONS, INC.

Issued

Jan 12, 2024

Abate by

Apr 16, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,679 · Current $1,340 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:  Shop: On or about November 1, 2023, an employee was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average noise level of 92.8  dBA (equivalently a dose of 148.5% in excess of the 85 dBA Action Level (equivalently a dose of 50%) while abrasive blasting on memorial headstones. All elements of a Hearing Conservation Program had not been implemented including audiometric testing and noise hazard training.   A Hearing Conservation Program shall include: 1-Monitoring 2-Offering of variety types of hearing protection 3-Baseline and annual audiometric testing 4-Noise hazard training 5-Posting of the standard 1910.95.

Issued

Jan 12, 2024

Abate by

Mar 5, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,009 · Current $1,005 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(2)(ii):The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user:  Shop: Employer did not develop and implement a written respirator program describing the requirements for respirator medical evaluations and respirator cleaning and maintenance. Employees were not medically cleared to wear the half mask respirators used during abrasive blasting operations.

Issued

Jan 12, 2024

Abate by

Mar 5, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,009 · Current $1,005 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(j)(1):The employer did not include respirable crystalline silica in the program established to comply with the hazard communication standard (HCS) (29 CFR 1910.1200):    Shop: Employer did not ensure Hazard Communication training was provided to employees where silica dust is generated during shaping and abrasive blasting operations on granite memorial headstones. The employer did not ensure that at least the following silica hazards were addressed: Cancer, lung effects, immune system effects, and kidney effects.

Issued

Jan 12, 2024

Abate by

Mar 5, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1):Employers shall develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f)labeling , (g) safety data sheets, and (h) information and training will be met:  Shop: Employer had not developed and implemented a written hazard communication program where paints and propane were used and silica was produced during shaping and abrasive blasting operations.

Issued

Jan 12, 2024

Abate by

Apr 16, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(d)(1):The employer did not assess the exposure of each employee who was or may reasonably be expected to be exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level in accordance with either the performance option in paragraph (d)(2) or the scheduled monitoring option in paragraph (d)(3) of this section:  Shop: Employer did not conduct air sampling to determine employee airborne exposure to respirable crystalline silica during shaping and abrasive blasting of granite memorial headstones.