OSHA Inspection: MEIER GRANITE COMPANY

Issued

2024-09-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-11-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4839.00 · Current $2917.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

229 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) On or about June 13, 2024, the employer did not implement a written respiratory protection program when respirators were necessary to protect the health of employees from hazardous chemicals such as, but not limited to, respirable crystalline silica exceeding the 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 ?g/m3 while grinding, polishing and cutting stone countertops.   An employee in the production area conducting marble and granite countertop polishing and grinding operations was exposed to respirable crystalline silica dust approximately 4.9 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 ?g/m3.   All provisions of 29 CFR 1910.134(d) through (m) must be contained in a written respiratory protection program for mandatory use of respirators. Key elements include, but are not limited to:  1) Procedures for selection of respirators 2) Medical evaluations for respirator use 3) Fit testing procedures 4) Procedures for proper use, cleaning, maintenance, and storage of respirators 5) Employee training 6) Procedures for regularly evaluating the respirator program  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19 (d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstration that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

2024-09-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-11-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(g)(2): Where respirator use was required by this section, the employer did not institute a respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134:   a) On or about June 13, 2024, the employer did not implement a written respiratory protection program while employees were wet and dry cutting, grinding and polishing natural stone countertops containing up to 50% quartz silica.   An employee in the production area conducting marble and granite countertop polishing and grinding operations was exposed to respirable crystalline silica dust approximately 4.9 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50?g/m3. Employees were provided non-NIOSH approved Zhong Jianle KN95 filtering half masks.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

2024-09-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-10-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4839.00 · Current $2917.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(ii): The employer did not select and use a NIOSH-certified respirator in compliance with the conditions of its certification:  a. On July 17, 2024, the employer exposed employees to hazards associated with respirable crystalline silica, in that the employer did not select and use a NIOSH-certified respirator in compliance with the conditions of its certification. Employees were supplied with Zhong Jianle KN95 filtering half masks.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

2024-09-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-11-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4839.00 · Current $2917.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(i)(1)(i):The employer did not make medical surveillance available at no cost to each employee, and at a reasonable time and place, for each employee who has been occupationally exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year.  a) On or about June 13, 2024, the employer did not conduct medical surveillance for employees who work in the countertop fabrication area and had been exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year. These employees perform wet and dry cutting, grinding and polishing on natural stone countertops containing quartz silica.   An employee in the production area conducting marble and granite countertop polishing and grinding operations was exposed to respirable crystalline silica dust approximately 4.9 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 ?g/m3.   In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19 (d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstration that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

2024-09-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-11-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4839.00 · Current $2917.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(c):The employer did not ensure that employees were not exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica in excess of 50 �g/m3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA:   a) On July 17, 2024 an employee in the production area conducting marble and granite countertop polishing and grinding operations was exposed to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica (quartz), a carcinogen, at 248 �g/m3, approximately 4.9 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 �g/m3 as an 8-hour time-weighted average. The exposure level was derived from a sample taken over a 461 minute period during the first shift starting on July 17, 2024. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 16 minutes.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19 (d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstration that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

2024-09-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-12-02 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(1): The employer did not use engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica to or below the PEL, unless the employer can demonstrate that such controls are not feasible:  Feasible engineering controls and work practices were not instituted to reduce and maintain employee exposures to crystalline silica at or below the permissible exposure limit:   a) On July 17, 2024 an employee in the production area conducting marble and granite countertop polishing and grinding operations was exposed to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica (quartz), a carcinogen, at 248 �g/m3, approximately 4.9 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 �g/m3 as an 8-hour time-weighted average. The exposure level was derived from a sample taken over a 461 minute period during the first shift starting on July 17, 2024. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 16 minutes.  General methods of control applicable in this circumstance include, but are not limited to the following:  1. Seek the expertise of a competent individual such as an engineer or certified industrial hygienist to assess existing controls including the ventilation system and water delivery system; obtain recommendations to improve existing controls, and implementation of recommended equipment(s) or modifications of existing controls.  2. Re-evaluate the current work practices for cutting, polishing and grinding, and ensure the use of water when performing all tasks, including drilling at the corners or cut outs for sinks/countertop, and internal angles.  3. Perform periodic maintenance checks/inspections of the local exhaust ventilation system and water delivery system to ensure that the capture velocity is effective, and that the system is functioning as designed.  STEP 1: Effective respiratory protection shall be provided and used by exposed employees as an interim protective measure until feasible engineering and/or administrative controls can be implemented, or whenever such controls fail to reduce employee exposure to the respirable dust permissible exposure limits. Abatement due by October 15, 2024.  STEP 2: Submit to the area director a written, detail plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measure to control employee exposure to hazardous substances as referenced in this citation. This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following action which must be consistent with the abatement dates required by this citation. Abatement due by October 30, 2024.  1) Evaluation of engineering/administrative control options;  2) Selection of optimum control methods and completion of design;  3) Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures; and  4) Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls.  STEP 3: Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance. Abatement due by December 1, 2024.

Issued

2024-09-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4839.00 · Current $2917.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

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 June 13, 2024, 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 or the scheduled monitoring option of the standard. These employees perform wet and dry cutting, grinding and polishing on natural stone countertops containing quartz silica.   An employee in the production area conducting marble and granite countertop polishing and grinding operations was exposed to respirable crystalline silica dust approximately 4.9 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 ?g/m3.   No abatement documentation is required for this item.

Issued

2024-09-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-11-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4839.00 · Current $2915.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

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 June 13, 2024, the employer did not establish and implement a written exposure control plan while employees were wet and dry cutting, grinding and polishing natural stone countertops containing quartz silica.   An employee in the production area conducting marble and granite countertop polishing and grinding operations was exposed to respirable crystalline silica dust approximately 4.9 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 ?g/m3.  All provisions of 1910.1053(f)(2)(i) (A) - (C) must be covered in a written respirable crystalline silica exposure control plan. Key elements include, but are not limited to the following:   1) A description of the tasks in the workplace that involve exposure to respirable crystalline silica.  2) A description of the engineering controls, work practices, and respiratory protection used to limit employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica for each task.  3) A description of the housekeeping measures used to limit employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19 (d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstration that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

2024-09-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-11-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4839.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

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) On or about June 13, 2024, the employer did not provide training to the employees on the hazardous chemicals present at the facility such as, but not limited to, crystalline silica exposure while wet and dry cutting, grinding and polishing natural stone countertops containing quartz silica.   An employee in the production area conducting marble and granite countertop polishing and grinding operations was exposed to respirable crystalline silica dust approximately 4.9 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 ?g/m3.   In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19 (d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstration that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

2024-09-30 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-11-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard was introduced into their work area.  a) On or about June 13, 2024, the employer did not ensure that employees were provided training on the hazardous chemicals at the worksite including, but not limited to: quartz, granite, and marble countertop material (containing silica), Tenax Tewax (containing 1,2-Dichloropropane, Superior Resin Color Past, Superior Transparent Knife Grade Epoxy (containing Styrene), Acetone Klean-Strip (containing Acetone) and Versa bond (containing Silica).  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19 (d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstration that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.