OSHA Inspection: PAVESTONE, LLC

Issued

May 30, 2024

Penalty

Initial $11,524 · Current $3,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(7)(iii): Internal parts of electrical equipment, including busbars, wiring terminals, insulators, and other surfaces, were damaged or contaminated by foreign materials such as paint, plaster, cleaners, abrasives, or corrosive residues:   Bagging Area:  A 480-volt electrical circuit panel that energized the bagging equipment such as the robot machine and conveyor belt motors was not effectively closed and allowed infiltration of concrete dust.

Issued

May 30, 2024

Abate by

Jul 22, 2024

Penalty

Initial $13,828 · Current $13,828

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(c): Employer did not ensure that no employee was exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica in excess of 50 micrograms per cubic meter (50 mcg/m3), calculated as an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA):  Production Area:  Employer did not ensure that employee airborne exposure did not exceed the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 mcg/m3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA for respirable crystalline silica in the following locations/job tasks:  a) Tumbling - A tumbler operator who operated the concrete block tumbling machine line was exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica at 77.0 mcg/m3 calculated as an 8-hour time weighted average.  b) Splitting/Mixer Cleanout - A splitter/mixer cleaner who operated the splitting area of the concrete block manufacturing machine line and cleaned out the mixers was exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica at 64 mcg/m3 calculated as an 8-hour time weighted average.

Issued

May 30, 2024

Abate by

Jul 22, 2024

Penalty

Initial $13,828 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(e)(1): Employer did not establish a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica was, or could have been reasonably expected to be, in excess of the permissible exposure limit (PEL):  Block Plant:  Employer did not establish regulated areas in the following locations/job operations where employee exposure was or could have been reasonably expected to be, in excess of the PEL:  a) Tumbling area. b) Split Line area. c) Mixer area.

Issued

May 30, 2024

Abate by

Jul 22, 2024

Penalty

Initial $13,828 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(g)(1): Where respiratory protection was required by this section, the employer did not provide each employee an appropriate respirator that complied with the requirements of this paragraph and 29 CFR 1910.134:  Block Plant:  Employer did not require the use of appropriate respirator for the employees whose airborne exposure exceeded the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 mcg/m3 for respirable crystalline silica who worked in the tumbling process and split line/mixer cleanout process.

Issued

May 30, 2024

Abate by

Jul 22, 2024

Penalty

Initial $13,828 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(g)(2):  Where respirator use was required by this section, the employer did not institute a respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134:  Employer did not institute all elements of a respiratory protection program required by this section when employee exposure exceeded the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter (mcg/m3) for respirable crystalline silica for employees who perform the tumbling process and split line/mixer cleanout processes. Elements not instituted included, but were not limited to:  a) Providing medical evaluation for each employee.  b) Providing fit testing for each employee. c) Providing employee training.

Issued

May 30, 2024

Abate by

Jul 22, 2024

Penalty

Initial $13,828 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(i)(1)(i): Employer did not make medical surveillance available at no cost to each employee, and at a reasonable time and place, for each employee who has been occupationally exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year:  Block Plant:  Employer did not make medical surveillance available for each employee who has been occupationally exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year who were performing tasks including, but not limited to:  a) Tumbling process. b) Split Line process. c) Mixer cleanout process. d) Dry Side process. e) Wet Side process.

Issued

May 30, 2024

Abate by

Jul 22, 2024

Penalty

Initial $13,828 · Current $0 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(2)(ii): The employer shall review and evaluate the effectiveness of the written exposure control plan at least annually and update it as necessary.  Block Plant:  The exposure control plan was not updated to reflect new work practices such as the use of mold release and rubber mallet to clean cement mixers.