OSHA Inspection: THE GRANITE & MARBLE DEPOT, INC.

Issued

Jul 17, 2024

Abate by

Aug 23, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $2,458 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(1):In any workplace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employee or whenever respirators are required by the employer, the employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite-specific procedures. The program shall be updated as necessary to reflect those changes in workplace conditions that affect respirator use. The employer shall include in the program the following provisions of this section, as applicable:  On or about April 4, 2024, employees exposed to respirable crystalline silica were not provided with a written respiratory protection program as they are required to wear N-95 masks when polishing and grinding manufactured stone.  Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Jul 17, 2024

Abate by

Sep 23, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,765 · Current $1,230 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(e)(1):General. The employer shall provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace. The employer may discontinue an employee's medical evaluations when the employee is no longer required to use a respirator.  On or about April 4, 2024, employees exposed to respirable crystalline silica while polishing and grinding manufactured stone, were not provided with medical evaluations to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace.  Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Jul 17, 2024

Abate by

Sep 23, 2024

Penalty

Initial $2,765 · Current $1,230 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(2):The employer shall ensure that an employee using a tight-fitting facepiece respirator is fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator, whenever a different respirator facepiece (size, style, model or make) is used, and at least annually thereafter.  On or about April 4, 2024, employees were exposed to respiratory stressors associated with being allowed to wear N-95 respirators . Employees are required to wear the respirator to protect from exposure to respirable crystalline silica while polishing and grinding manufactured stone. Employees were not fit-tested prior to the initial use of the respirator.  Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Jul 17, 2024

Penalty

Initial $4,610 · Current $2,458 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(d)(1):Exposure assessment-(1) General. The employer did not assess the exposure of each employee who is 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.  On or about April 4, 2024, the employer did not assess the exposure of each employee who may reasonably be expected to be exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level while polishing and grinding manufactured stone.  This item was corrected during the inspection.

Issued

Jul 17, 2024

Abate by

Sep 5, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(f)(2)(i):Written exposure control plan. (i) The employer shall establish and implement a written exposure control plan that contains at least the following elements:  (A)  A description of the tasks in the workplace that involve exposure to respirable crystalline silica; (B)  A description of the engineering controls, work practices, and respiratory protection used to limit employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica for each task; and (C)  A description of the housekeeping measures used to limit employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica.   On or about April 4, 2024, the employer, The Granite & Marble Depot, Inc., did not establish and implement a written exposure control plan for exposure to respirable crystalline silica that included, 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  during the polishing and cutting of manufactured stone slabs.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement documentation is required for this violation.

Issued

Jul 17, 2024

Abate by

Aug 23, 2024

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(j)(1):Communication of respirable crystalline silica hazards to employees-(1) Hazard communication. The employer shall include respirable crystalline silica in the program established to comply with the hazard communication standard (HCS) (29 CFR 1910.1200). The employer shall ensure that each employee has access to labels on containers of crystalline silica and safety data sheets, and is trained in accordance with the provisions of HCS and paragraph (j)(3) of this section. The employer shall ensure that at least the following hazards are addressed: Cancer, lung effects, immune system effects, and kidney effects.  On or about April 4, 2024, the employer, The Granite & Marble Depot, Inc., failed to  develop, implement and maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes respirable crystalline silica hazards.  The employer failed to ensure that each employee has access to labels on containers of crystalline silica and safety data sheets, and is trained in accordance with the provision of HCS.  The employer fail to ensure the following hazards are addressed:  cancer, lung effects, immune system effects, and kidney effects.     In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement documentation is required for this violation.