OSHA Inspection: HARWOOD BOYS ENTERPRISES, INC

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Abate by

Aug 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,765 · Current $1,659 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 implemented for required respirator use:   a) Countertop fabrication area; On February 28, 2024, and at times prior to the employer required the use of tight fitting elastomeric respirators without first developing and implementing a respirator program.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Abate by

Aug 6, 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) Countertop fabrication area; On February 28, 2024, and at times prior to the employer required the use of tight fitting elastomeric respirators without first providing medical evaluations to employees.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Abate by

Aug 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(1): The employer did not ensure that employee(s) required to use a tight-fitting facepiece respirator passed the appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT):     a) Countertop fabrication area; On February 28, 2024, and at times prior to the employer required the use of tight fitting elastomeric respirators without first providing fit testing to employees.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,765 · Current $1,659 Reduced

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) Countertop fabrication area; On February 28, 2024, and at times prior to the employer exposed employees to an 8 hour calculated Time Weighted Average (TWA) of 34 micrograms per cubic meter of respirable fraction crystalline silica quartz which is 1.36 times the calculated 8 hour TWA Action Limit (AL) of 25.0 micrograms per cubic meter of respirable fraction crystalline silica quartz while prepping granite countertops. Results were calculated based on the 490 minute sampling period.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Abate by

Aug 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(d)(3)(i): The employer did not perform initial monitoring to assess the 8-hour TWA exposure for each employee on the basis of one or more personal breathing zone air samples that reflect the exposures of employees on each shift, for each job classification, in each work area:   a) Countertop fabrication area; On February 28, 2024, and at times prior to the employer required that employees engage in activities such as cutting, grinding and buffing of granite countertops without first performing initial monitoring to determine employee exposure in that area.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Abate by

Aug 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(e)(2)(i): The employer did not demarcate regulated areas from the rest of the workplace in a manner that minimized the number of employees exposed to respirable crystalline silica within the regulated area:    a) Countertop fabrication area; On February 28, 2024, and at times prior to the employer required that employees engage in activities such as cutting, grinding and buffing of granite countertops without putting in place methods to limit the number of workers that could enter the blasting areas such as physical barriers or signs.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Abate by

Aug 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(f)(2)(i): The employer did not establish and implement a written exposure control plan:   a) Countertop fabrication area; On or about February  28, 2024, and at times prior to the employer failed to create and implement a written exposure control plan for crystalline silica when employees were engaged in activities such as cutting, grinding and buffing of granite countertops that contained crystalline silica.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Abate by

Aug 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(j)(1): The employer did not include respirable crystalline silica in the program established to comply with the hazard communication standard (HCS) (29 CFR 1910.1200):      a) Countertop fabrication area; On or about February  28, 2024, and at times prior to the employer required that employees engage in activities such as cutting/grinding and buffing of granite countertops that contained crystalline silica without first including respirable crystalline silica and hazards associated with in the hazard communication program and training.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Abate by

Aug 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(j)(2): The employer did not post signs at all entrances to regulated areas that bear the following legend:  DANGER                                                                                 RESPIRABLE CRYSTALLINE SILICA  MAY CAUSE CANCER  CAUSES DAMAGE TO LUNGS  WEAR RESPIRATORY PROTECTION IN THIS AREA  AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY    a) Countertop fabrication area; On February 28, 2024, and at times prior to the employer required that employees engage in activities such as cutting, grinding and buffing of granite countertops without posting signs at or around areas where crystalline silica was present warning employees of the hazards present.

Issued

Jul 9, 2024

Abate by

Aug 6, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1): Employer had not developed or implemented a written hazard communication program that included the requirements outlined in 29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1)(i) and (e)(1)(ii):     a) Countertop fabrication area; On February 28, 2024, and at times prior to the employer required that employees utilize hazardous chemicals such as acetone, sealer, and alcohol without first developing and implementing a hazardous communication program.