OSHA Inspection: MONTROSE MARBLE & GRANITE

Issued

Aug 19, 2024

Abate by

Sep 17, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,074 · Current $2,074

Hazardous substances 90009130

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)  On or about April 3, 2024, and at times prior, the employer did not provide a written program when employees were required (mandatory) to wear N-95s and half-face respirators.  Employees in the stone cutting room are required to wear N-95s or half-face respirators. There was no written program established for use of mandatory respirators, exposing employees to inhalation hazards such as silica.   Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet).

Issued

Aug 19, 2024

Abate by

Sep 17, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 1660

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(d)(1)(i): Selection of appropriate respirators was not based on the respiratory hazard(s) to which the worker was exposed and user factors that affect respirator performance and reliability:   a.)  On or about April 3, 2024, and at times prior, employees were exposed to inhalation hazards such as methyl alcohol due to how the employees were choosing their respirators. The employer did not ensure the employees were provided with organic vapor cartridges as well as P100 cartridges. The employer protected the employees from potential silica, but not from other organic vapors in the chemicals used during stone cutting and processing operations. An employee was observed wearing P100 filters while using Klean Strip, which is not a particulate hazard but is an organic vapor hazard.  Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet).

Issued

Aug 19, 2024

Abate by

Sep 17, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

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.)  On or about April 3, 2024, and at times prior, the employer did not provide a medical evaluation to employees who wore half-face respirators and N-95s in the workplace. The employee cutting stone countertops was observed wearing a half-face respirator and N95; there were no medical evaluations before usage, exposing employees to physiological burdens.   Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet).

Issued

Aug 19, 2024

Abate by

Sep 17, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

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.)  On or about April 4, 2024, and at times prior, the employer did not provide fit tests for employees who were required to wear Moldex half-face respirators or 3M N-95s in the workplace. Employees in the stone cutting area were observed wearing N-95s and half-face respirator; there were no fit  tests completed, exposing employees to silica inhalation hazards.   Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet).

Issued

Aug 19, 2024

Abate by

Sep 17, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(h)(2)(i): Respirators were not stored to protect them from damage, contamination, dust, sunlight, extreme temperatures, excessive moisture, and damaging chemicals or  were not packed or stored to prevent deformation of the facepiece and exhalation valve:   a.)  On or about April 3, 2024, and at times prior, employees were exposed to inhalation hazards such as silica due to how the employees were storing their respirators. The employer did not ensure the employees kept their respirators stored in a way that additional dust and contaminants would not get on the respirators. Respirators were observed hung up in the main work are and near where grinding operations occur, being exposed to additional silica and dust in the workplace.  Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet).

Issued

Aug 19, 2024

Abate by

Sep 17, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 16609000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(k): The employer did not provide comprehensive, understandable training which did not occur annually and/or more often if necessary:   a.)  On or about April 3, 2024, and at times prior, employees were exposed to inhalation hazards such as silica and methanol (e.g. Klean Strip). The employer did not provide effective training to employees who are required to use respirators.   Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet).

Issued

Aug 19, 2024

Abate by

Sep 17, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,765 · Current $2,765

Hazardous substances 90009130

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 April 3, 2024, and at times prior, the employer did not provide a written program when employees were handling and using hazardous chemicals in the stone shop (e.g. Lean Strip Denatured Alcohol). Employees in the stone cutting room are required to use chemicals to perform their job. There was no written program established for hazardous communication (chemical usage).  Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet).

Issued

Aug 19, 2024

Abate by

Sep 17, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(g)(1):  Employers did not have a safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they use  a.)  On or about April 3, 2024, and at times prior, the employer did not provide Safety Data Sheets for employees to access when handling and using hazardous chemicals in the stone shop (e.g. Klean Strip Denatured Alcohol). Employees in the stone cutting room are required to use chemicals to perform their job. There were no Safety Data Sheets at this employer.  Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet).

Issued

Aug 19, 2024

Abate by

Sep 17, 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 April 3, 2024, and at times prior, the employer did not provide hazardous chemical training for employees while performing every day duties in the stone shop with chemicals (e.g. Klean Strip Denatured Alcohol). Employees in the stone cutting room are required to use chemicals to perform their job. There was no hazardous communication training provided to employees, including where to find safety data sheets, how to read one, proper PPE usage for the different chemicals, carcinogenicity, etc.  Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet).

Issued

Aug 19, 2024

Abate by

Sep 17, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 90009130

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.)  On or about April 3, 2024, and at times prior, the employer did not conduct exposure assessments for employees conducting stone cutting and grinding operations who may reasonably be expected to be exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level.   Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet).

Issued

Aug 19, 2024

Abate by

Sep 17, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 90009130

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(f)(2)(i): The employer did not establish and implement a written exposure control plan:  a.)  On or about April 3, 2024, and at times prior, the employer did not provide a written program when employees were exposed to respirable silica.  Employees in the stone cutting room cut stone that contains crystalline silica. There was no written program established for silica exposure.   Abatement Note: Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item (see enclosed Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet).