OSHA Inspection: BALCONI MONUMENTS, INC.

Issued

Feb 27, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,074 · Current $1,037 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.94(a)(5)(v): Operators were not equipped with heavy canvas or leather gloves and aprons or equivalent protection to protect them from the impact of abrasives:  On or about October 26, 2023, the employer did not provide heavy canvas, leather gloves or equivalent blasting gloves to employees performing abrasive blasting activities on stone monuments to protect from the impact from abrasives.

Issued

Feb 27, 2024

Abate by

Mar 21, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,457 · Current $1,728 Reduced

Hazardous substances 90009130

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:  On or about October 26, 2023, the employer had not established and implemented a written respiratory program for employees voluntarily using 1/2 faced elastomeric respirators when performing job tasks such as but not limited to cleaning the abrasive blasting booth, sweeping inside and outside the shop building, and dry cutting slits into countertops. Elements to be covered by the respiratory protection program include the medical evaluation process, procedures to ensure employees clean, store and maintain respirators, and providing training and information to the employees.

Issued

Feb 27, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 90009130

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 October 26, 2023, the employer had not provided medical evaluations to employees voluntarily permitted to wear half-faced elastomeric respirators when performing job tasks such as but not limited to cleaning the abrasive blasting booth, sweeping inside and outside the shop building, and dry cutting slits into countertops, in order to determine their ability to use a respirator prior to its first use in the work environment.

Issued

Feb 27, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 90009130

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 valve:  On or about October 26, 2023, the employer did not ensure respirators in the fabrication shop were stored to protect them from damage, contamination, and dust. Respirators were hanging from straps in the work environment which may damage the head straps and potentially allow the respirator to become contaminated with dust and debris in the work environment.

Issued

Feb 27, 2024

Abate by

Mar 21, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 90009130

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(k)(6): The employer did not provide the basic advisory information on respirators, as presented in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, in written or oral format to employees who wear respirators when such use was not required by the employer:  On or about October 26, 2023, the employer had not provided employees voluntarily using 1/2 faced elastomeric respirators when performing job tasks such as but not limited to cleaning the abrasive blasting booth, sweeping inside and outside the shop building, and dry cutting slits into countertops, with the advisory information on respirators from Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134.

Issued

Feb 27, 2024

Abate by

Mar 21, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,074 · Current $1,037 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.244(b): Abrasive blast cleaning nozzle(s) were not equipped with an operating valve which had to be held open manually:  On or about October 26, 2023, the employer did not ensure abrasive blast cleaning nozzles used for processes such as but not limited to engraving monuments were equipped with an operating valve which had to be held open manually. Employees were potentially exposed to contact with abrasive material and struck by hazards.

Issued

Feb 27, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,457 · Current $1,728 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

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:  On or about October 26, 2023, the employer did not assess employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica during processes such as but not limited to CNC cutting of natural and engineered stone slabs, water polishing of natural and engineered stone slabs, and abrasive blasting of stone monuments. Employees are potentially exposed to respiratory hazards related to respirable crystalline silica when cutting, grinding, polishing, and engraving on natural and engineered stone products in the workplace.

Issued

Feb 27, 2024

Abate by

Mar 21, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(2)(i): The employer did not establish and implement a written exposure control plan that included the elements in 29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(2)(i)(A)-(C):  On or about October 26, 2023, the employer had not established a written respirable crystalline silica exposure control program which included a description of tasks that involve exposure to respirable crystalline silica, a description of engineering controls, work practices and respiratory protection used to limit employee exposure for each task and a description of housekeeping measures to limit employee exposure. Employees were exposed to respirable crystalline silica during job tasks such as performing abrasive blasting on granite monuments, cutting natural and engineered stone countertops, and polishing natural and engineered stone countertops.