OSHA Inspection: KC GRANITE & CABINETRY, LLC

Issued

2024-01-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-01-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6250.00 · Current $4688.00 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 1910.95(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:  Employees were exposed to noise hazards. Employee working in the polishing workshop - cutting and grinding granite slabs were exposed to continuous noise levels at 99% of permissible daily noise exposure (8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 89.5 dBA), during the 296 minutes sampling period on October 25, 2023.  Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the 184 minutes not sampled.   a)  The employer failed to administer a hearing conservation program. b)  The employer failed to implement a noise monitoring program to identify employees for inclusion in the hearing conservation program. c)  The employer failed to establish an audiometric testing program. d) The employer failed to institute a training program and ensure employees participate in the program.

Issued

2024-01-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3795.00 · Current $2846.00 Reduced

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:   In the stone cutting and polishing areas, employees engaged in stone cutting, grinding and polishing activities  were exposed to respiratory hazards and/or cardiac stress hazards when using employer required respirators. The employer did not conduct medical evaluations before requiring the employees to use half -tight fitting respirators. Employees were required to wear GVS HESPA half-mask negative pressure respirators with replaceable filters.

Issued

2024-01-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4554.00 · Current $3416.00 Reduced

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:  In the stone cutting and polishing areas, employees engaged in stone cutting, grinding and polishing activities  were exposed to respiratory hazards in that the employer had not provided  fit testing for employees required to use respirators.  Employees were required to wear GVS HESPA half-mask negative pressure respirators with replaceable filters.

Issued

2024-01-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-01-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2678.00 · Current $2009.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(h)(2)(i): Respirators were not stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals or were not packed or stored to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valves.  In the polishing workshop, employees cutting and grinding granite slabs were exposed to respiratory hazards in that employer did not ensure that respirators used by employees were stored correctly.  Respirators were observed sitting on dusty work benches, and left hanging on a hook in a dusty environment.

Issued

2024-01-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-01-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2678.00 · Current $2009.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(k):The employer did not provide comprehensive, understandable training which did not occur annually and/or more often if necessary:  In the stone cutting and polishing areas, employees engaged in stone cutting, grinding and polishing activities  were exposed to respiratory hazards in that the employer had not provided training to employees on respirator use. The employees are required to use GVS HESPA half face mask .

Issued

2024-01-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2277.00 · Current $1708.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(6): The employer did not certify that each operator has been trained and evaluated as required by this paragraph (l):   In the warehouse, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards in that the employer allowed the employees to operate  Caterpillar; Model: GC40KS1; Serial Number: AT87A02144 forklift truck without documented forklift certifications.

Issued

2024-01-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-01-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4465.00 · Current $3349.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(m)(2): Employee(s) stood under or passed under the elevated portion of a powered industrial truck s). In the warehouse part of the facility, employees were exposed to struck-by hazards in that the employer did not prohibit employees from passing under an elevated forklift (Brand: Caterpillar; Model: GC40KSI; Serial Number: AT87A02144) attachment.

Issued

2024-01-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-01-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6250.00 · Current $4688.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(c): The employer did not ensure that no employee was exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica in excess of  50 µg/m³, calculated as an 8-hour TWA:  On or about October 25, 2023, employees working in the stone cutting, grinding & polishing areas were exposed to respirable crystalline silica above the OSHA PEL.  The employer failed to protect employees from respiratory hazards related to exposure to respirable crystalline silica in the following instances:      a) The employee(s) at the polishing area was exposed to respirable crystalline silica at 380 µg/m³ in an 8-hour TWA.  The employee was polishing granite slabs using a 9-Q handheld polisher with a water attachment (Quick Brand). He was working in a room with employee(s) who was dry cutting a granite slab.  b) The employee at the polishing area was exposed to respirable crystalline silica at 280 µg/m³ in an 8-hour TWA.  The employee was polishing granite slabs using a 9-Q handheld polisher (Quick Brand) with a water attachment. He was working in a room with employee(s) who was dry cutting a granite slab.  c) The employee at the polishing area was exposed to respirable crystalline silica at 1400 µg/m³ in an 8-hour TWA.  The employee was dry cutting a granite slab.  d)  The employee at the cutting area was exposed to respirable crystalline silica at 110 µg/m³ in an 8-hour TWA.  The employee was cutting a granite slab using Omega Diamond 5HP+ circular saw with a water attachment.

Issued

2024-01-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-01-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6250.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(2)(i): The employer did not establish and implement a written exposure control plan:  Employee(s) engaged in granite cutting, grinding & polishing activities in the cutting & polishing areas of the facility were exposed to silica hazards when exposure levels exceeded the eight-hour time-weighted average (8-hour TWA) Permissible Exposure Limit of  50 µg/m³. The employer had not developed and implemented a written silica exposure control plan.  1) Employee #1 (stone polisher) performed stone polishing operations and was exposed to Respirable Crystalline Silica at 7.6 times the permissible exposure limit. The employee's eight-hour time-weighted average (8-hour TWA) was 380 micrograms/ meter cubic.  2) Employee #2 (stone polisher) performed stone polishing operations and was exposed to Respirable Crystalline Silica  at 5.6 times the permissible exposure limit. The employee's eight-hour time-weighted average (8-hour TWA) was 280 micrograms/ meter cubic.  3) Employee #3 (stone polisher) performed stone polishing operations and was exposed to Respirable Crystalline Silica  at 27.3 times the permissible exposure limit. The employee's eight-hour time-weighted average (8-hour TWA) was 1400 micrograms/ meter cubic.  4) Employee #4 (stone polisher) performed stone polishing operations and was exposed to Respirable Crystalline Silica at 2.15 times the permissible exposure limit. The employee's eight-hour time-weighted average (8-hour TWA) was 110 micrograms/ meter cubic.

Issued

2024-01-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-01-29 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2678.00 · Current $2009.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:  Employees are exposed to electrical shock hazards. Employees engaged in granite cutting & polishing activities in the polishing area were exposed to electrical shock hazards in that a flexible cord was used as a substitute for fixed wiring to power several equipment including a water sump pump, polishers with water attachments.