OSHA Inspection: LARA ASSOCIATES LLC

Issued

May 2, 2024

Abate by

May 29, 2024

Penalty

Initial $3,918 · Current $2,743 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

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:  On or about February 13, 2024, within the Cutting and Production departments, employees performed work on the shop floor while being exposed to noise levels that equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (dBA), or an equivalent dose of fifty percent, without a continuing and effective hearing conservation program in place. The employer failed to implement the hearing conservation program to include monitoring to identify employees for inclusion into the program, audiometric testing to provide surveillance for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), and hearing conservation training.  (a) On February 13, 2024, an employee operating the pallet machine within the Production department was exposed to noise at 134.2% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 92.1 dBA, as measured over 481 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 92.1 dBA.  (b) On February 13, 2024, an employee operating the pallet machine within the Production department was exposed to noise at 117.2% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 91.1 dBA, as measured over 481 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 91.1 dBA.  (c) On February 13, 2024, an employee operating the pallet machine within the Production department was exposed to noise at 98.3% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 89.8 dBA, as measured over 477 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 89.8 dBA.  (d) On February 13, 2024, an employee operating multiple saws within the Cutting department was exposed to noise at 82.6% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 88.6 dBA, as measured over 481 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 88.6 dBA.  (e) On February 13, 2024, an employee operating multiple saws within the Cutting department was exposed to noise at 99% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 89.9 dBA, as measured over 479 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 89.9 dBA.

Issued

May 2, 2024

Abate by

Jun 20, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(g)(1):The employer did not establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided by 29 CFR 1910.95(g) by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels:  On or about February 13, 2024, and days within the Cutting and Production departments, employees performed work on the shop floor while being exposed to noise levels that equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (dBA), or an equivalent dose of fifty percent, without a continuing and effective hearing conservation program in place. The employer failed to implement audiometric testing to provide surveillance for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).  (a) On February 13, 2024, an employee operating the pallet machine within the Production department was exposed to noise at 134.2% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 92.1 dBA, as measured over 481 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 92.1 dBA.  (b) On February 13, 2024, an employee operating the pallet machine within the Production department was exposed to noise at 117.2% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 91.1 dBA, as measured over 481 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 91.1 dBA.  (c) On February 13, 2024, an employee operating the pallet machine within the Production department was exposed to noise at 98.3% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 89.8 dBA, as measured over 477 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 89.8 dBA.  (d) On February 13, 2024, an employee operating multiple saws within the Cutting department was exposed to noise at 82.6% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 88.6 dBA, as measured over 481 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 88.6 dBA.  (e) On February 13, 2024, an employee operating multiple saws within the Cutting department was exposed to noise at 99% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 89.9 dBA, as measured over 479 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 89.9 dBA.

Issued

May 2, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 81108111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(k)(1):The employer did not train each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.95(k). The employer did not institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the program:  On or about February 13, 2024, and days prior, within the Cutting and Production departments, employees performed work on the shop floor while being exposed to noise levels that equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (dBA), or an equivalent dose of fifty percent, without a continuing and effective hearing conservation program in place. The employer failed to implement hearing conservation training.  (a) On February 13, 2024, an employee operating the pallet machine within the Production department was exposed to noise at 134.2% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 92.1 dBA, as measured over 481 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 92.1 dBA.  (b) On February 13, 2024, an employee operating the pallet machine within the Production department was exposed to noise at 117.2% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 91.1 dBA, as measured over 481 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 91.1 dBA.  (c) On February 13, 2024, an employee operating the pallet machine within the Production department was exposed to noise at 98.3% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 89.8 dBA, as measured over 477 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 89.8 dBA.  (d) On February 13, 2024, an employee operating multiple saws within the Cutting department was exposed to noise at 82.6% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 88.6 dBA, as measured over 481 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 88.6 dBA.  (e) On February 13, 2024, an employee operating multiple saws within the Cutting department was exposed to noise at 99% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 89.9 dBA, as measured over 479 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 89.9 dBA.

Issued

May 2, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,350 · Current $1,645 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1):The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:  (a) On or about February 2, 2024, the employer did not develop or implement a hazard communication program for employees that handle aerosol paints, greases and oils.

Issued

May 2, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(1):Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:  (a) On or about February 2, 2024, the employer did not provide employees handling chemical products with hazard communication training.