OSHA Inspection: ASCO INDUSTRIES, LLC

Issued

Jul 26, 2024

Abate by

Sep 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $6,452 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:  a) Asco Industries LLC located at 306 Commerce Drive, Exton, PA 19341 - On or about February 15, 2024, the employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program for employees required to wear respirators such as, but not limited to Honeywell North half face 5500 respirator with P100 filters and 3M 8210 N95 respirator, while performing stone cutting and finishing activities.

Issued

Jul 26, 2024

Abate by

Sep 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:  a) Asco Industries LLC located at 306 Commerce Drive, Exton, PA 19341 - On or about February 15, 2024, the employer did not provide a medical evaluation prior to requiring employees to use respirators such as but not limited to Honeywell North half face 5500 respirator with P100 filters and 3M 8210 N95 respirator, while performing stone cutting and finishing activities.

Issued

Jul 26, 2024

Abate by

Sep 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(2): Employees using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, and whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) was used, and at least annually thereafter:  a) Asco Industries LLC located at 306 Commerce Drive, Exton, PA 19341 - On or about February 15, 2024, the employer did not provide a fit test to all employees required to wear respirators, exposing them to respiratory hazards. The employer required employees to wear respirators such as, but not limited to Honeywell North half face 5500 respirator with P100 filters and 3M 8210 N95 respirator, while performing stone cutting and finishing activities.

Issued

Jul 26, 2024

Abate by

Sep 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not provide respirator training that would ensure each employee could demonstrate knowledge of items in section (i)-(vii):  a) Asco Industries LLC located at 306 Commerce Drive, Exton, PA 19341 - On or about February 15, 2024, the employer did not ensure that employees required to use respirators such as, but not limited to Honeywell North half face 5500 respirator with P100 filters and 3M 8210 N95 respirator during stone cutting and finishing activities had received respirator training.

Issued

Jul 26, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $1,700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.178(l)(4)(iii): An evaluation of each powered industrial truck operator's performance shall be conducted at least once every three years:  a) Asco Industries LLC located at 306 Commerce Drive, Exton, PA 19341 - On or about February 15, 2024, the employer did not ensure that an evaluation of each operator's performance operating powered industrial trucks (PIT), such as but not limited to the Nissan KCPHO2 forklift, was conducted at least once every three years, thereby exposing employees to struck-by hazards.

Issued

Jul 26, 2024

Abate by

Sep 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $6,452 · Current $3,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances S103

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:  a)  Asco Industries LLC located at 306 Commerce Drive, Exton, PA 19341 - On or about February 15, 2024, the employer did not assess exposure to respirable crystalline silica for employees engaged in stone cutting and finishing activities which generates silica dust. Employees were overexposed to respirable crystalline silica while engaged in stone cutting and finishing activities.  Employees were exposed to respirable crystalline silica during an 8-hour workday of  38.2145 micrograms per cubic meter (?g/m3) and 25.3825 ?g/m3  for an 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA), which is  1.5286 and 1.0153  times the OSHA Action Level of 25 micrograms per cubic meter, respectively.     Violation noted on April 25, 2024

Issued

Jul 26, 2024

Penalty

Initial $6,452 · Current $3,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances S103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(f)(2)(i):The employer did not establish and implement a written exposure control plan:  a) Asco Industries LLC located at 306 Commerce Drive, Exton, PA 19341 -  The employer did not establish and implement a written exposure control plan, to include specific tasks and controls used to minimize employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica.  Employees were overexposed to respirable crystalline silica while engaged in stone cutting and finishing activities.  Employees were exposed to respirable crystalline silica during an 8-hour workday of  38.2145 micrograms per cubic meter (?g/m3) and 25.3825 ?g/m3 for an 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA), which is  1.5286 and 1.0153  times the OSHA Action Level of 25 micrograms per cubic meter, respectively.     Violation noted on April 25, 2024

Issued

Jul 26, 2024

Abate by

Sep 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $6,452 · Current $3,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances S103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(i)(1)(i): Medical surveillance- The employer shall make medical surveillance available at no cost to the employee, and at a reasonable time and place, for each employee who will be occupationally exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year:  a) Asco Industries LLC located at 306 Commerce Drive, Exton, PA 19341 - On or about February 15, 2024, the employer did not make medical surveillance available to employees performing tasks generating silica dust. Employees engaged in the cutting, routing, and polishing of natural and engineered stone were exposed to crystalline silica dust. Employees were overexposed to respirable crystalline silica while engaged in stone cutting and finishing activities.  Employees were exposed to respirable crystalline silica during an 8-hour workday of  38.2145 micrograms per cubic meter (?g/m3) and 25.3825 ?g/m3  for an 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA), which is  1.5286 and 1.0153  times the OSHA Action Level of 25 micrograms per cubic meter, respectively.     Violation noted on April 25, 2024

Issued

Jul 26, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,702 · Current $1,000 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 described how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200 paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) would be met:  a) Asco Industries LLC located at 306 Commerce Drive, Exton, PA 19341 - On or about February 15, 2024, a written Hazard Communication Program was not provided where employees are exposed to hazardous chemicals throughout the stone cutting and finishing processes. Employees are exposed to hazardous chemicals including but not limited to the following:  -Vinyl ester resin, styrene, ethylbenzene, amorphous fumed silica, hydrophobic silica, and fumed silica, as contained in Superior V-Max SV9. -Styrene and maleic anhydride, as contained in Tenax Spa Fluido Trasparente. -Acetone (2-Propanone), as contained in Klean-Strip Acetone. -Unsaturated resin, methyl methacrylate, hydrophobic amorphous, and fumed silica, as contained in Superior Gold GV-5 Knife Grade.  -etc.

Issued

Jul 26, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(1): Employers shall provide employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new chemical hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area:  a) Asco Industries LLC located at 306 Commerce Drive, Exton, PA 19341 - On or about February 15, 2024, employees were not provided effective information/training on the hazardous chemicals in their work areas.  Employees are exposed to chemicals, including but not limited to:   -Vinyl ester resin, styrene, ethylbenzene, amorphous fumed silica, hydrophobic silica, and fumed silica, as contained in Superior V-Max SV9. -Styrene and maleic anhydride, as contained in Tenax Spa Fluido Trasparente. -Acetone (2-Propanone), as contained in Klean-Strip Acetone. -Unsaturated resin, methyl methacrylate, hydrophobic amorphous, and fumed silica, as contained in Superior Gold GV-5 Knife Grade.  -etc.

Issued

Jul 26, 2024

Abate by

Sep 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances S103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(j)(1): The employer did not ensure that each employee was trained in accordance with the provisions of the hazard communication standard and paragraph (j)(3) of this section:  a) Asco Industries LLC located at 306 Commerce Drive, Exton, PA 19341 - On or about February 15, 2024, the employer did not provide training to employees exposed to respirable crystalline silica during the stone cutting and finishing processes.

Issued

Jul 26, 2024

Abate by

Sep 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances S103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(j)(3)(i): The employer did ensure that each employee covered by this section could demonstrate knowledge and understanding of  the health hazards associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica; specific tasks in the workplace that could result in exposure to respirable crystalline silica; specific measures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to respirable crystalline silica; the contents of this section; and the purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program required by paragraph (i) of this section:  a)  Asco Industries LLC located at 306 Commerce Drive, Exton, PA 19341 - On or about February 15, 2024, the employer did not provide employees with information and training on hazards associated with tasks generating silica dust and measures needed to be implemented to protect employees. Employees engaged in stone cutting and finishing activities were exposed to crystalline silica dust.

Issued

Jul 26, 2024

Abate by

Sep 12, 2024

Penalty

Initial $922 · Current $300 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1904.32(a)(2): At the end of each calendar year, an annual summary was not created for injuries and illnesses recorded on the OSHA 300 Log:  a) Asco Industries LLC located at 306 Commerce Drive, Exton, PA 19341 - On or about February 15, 2024, annual summaries (OSHA 300A forms) of injuries and illnesses recorded for years 2021, 2022 and 2023 were not created.