OSHA Inspection: ST. CROIX GRANITE & QUARTZ, LLC.

Issued

2024-03-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4839.00 · Current $3387.00 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 ?g/m3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA:  (a) Polishing Area; On or about  December 12, 2023, an employee polishing engineered  stone (quartz) was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 122.08 micrograms/cubic meter (ug/m3) of respirable crystalline silica (RCS), approximately 2.44 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 ug/m3.  The exposure level was derived from samples collected over a 353 - minute sampling period, with zero exposure assumed for the unsampled period of 127 minutes.

Issued

2024-03-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(f)(1): The employer did not use engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica to or below the PEL, unless the employer can demonstrate that such controls are not feasible:   (a) Polishing Area; On or about December 12, 2023, an employee polishing engineered stone (quartz) was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 122.08 micrograms/cubic meter (ug/m3) of respirable crystalline silica (RCS), approximately 2.44 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 ug/m3. The exposure level was derived from samples collected over a 353 - minute sampling period, with zero exposure assumed for the unsampled period of 127 minutes. Engineering and work practice controls were not sufficient to reduce the employee's exposure to, or below the PEL.

Issued

2024-03-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-06-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(f)(2)(i): The employer did not establish and implement a written exposure control plan that contained at least the following elements: a description of the tasks in the workplace that involve exposure to respirable crystalline silica; a description of the engineering controls, work practices, and respiratory protection used to limit employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica for each task; and a description of the housekeeping measures used to limit employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica:   (a) Throughout the facility; The employer did not implement a written  exposure control plan for employees exposed to respirable crystalline silica over the permissible exposure limit during polishing and near the action level during operation of the Saber CNC Saw and the Titan CNC Router.

Issued

2024-03-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-06-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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:    (a) Polishing Area; On or about  December 12, 2023, an employee polishing engineered  stone (quartz) was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 122.08 micrograms/cubic meter (ug/m3) of respirable crystalline silica (RCS), approximately 2.44 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 ug/m3.  The exposure level was derived from samples collected over a 353 - minute sampling period, with zero exposure assumed for the unsampled period of 127 minutes.  Filtering facepiece N95 respirators were utilized as respiratory protection.  The employer did not have an implemented respiratory protection program to address required elements such as, but not limited to, fit testing, medical evaluations, and training.

Issued

2024-03-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-07-26 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(i)(2): The employer did not make available an initial (baseline) medical examination within 30 days after initial assignment when the employee had not received a medical examination that meets the requirements of this section within the last three years:   (a) Polishing Area; Medical examinations were not made available to employees exposed to respirable crystalline silica over the permissible exposure limit during polishing tasks.