OSHA Inspection: RALPH CORDOVA COMPANY

Issued

Dec 13, 2024

Abate by

May 14, 2025

Penalty

Initial $8,067 · Current $3,017 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.95(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equaled or exceeded an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:  (a) In the finishing area, an employee was exposed to noise levels at 115.3% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 115.3% is approximately 91 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 428 minutes during one shift on August 13, 2024.  Zero exposure was assumed for the time not sampled.  (b) In the finishing area, an employee was exposed to noise levels at 90.4% of the permissible 8-hour TWA (90 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of 90.4% is approximately 89.3 dBA.  Sampling was performed for 419 minutes during one shift on August 13, 2024.  Zero exposure was assumed for the time not sampled.

Issued

Dec 13, 2024

Abate by

May 14, 2025

Penalty

Initial $6,453 · Current $3,017 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.107(m)(1): Spraying operations involving the use of organic peroxides and other dual component coatings were not conducted in approved sprinklered spray booths meeting the requirements of this section:  (a) On or about June 14, 2024, and at times prior and thereafter, in the cultured marble production area, a spraying operation involving organic peroxide and unsaturated polyester resin was not conducted in an approved sprinklered spray booth.

Issued

Dec 13, 2024

Abate by

May 14, 2025

Penalty

Initial $9,680 · Current $3,017 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify, through a written certification, that the required workplace hazard assessment had been performed:  (a) On or about June 14, 2024, the employer did not verify that a workplace hazard assessment had been performed through a written certification.  At the workplace, employees were exposed to skin and eye contact hazards from hazardous chemicals including, but not limited to, styrene, methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, and acetone.

Issued

Dec 13, 2024

Abate by

May 14, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.133(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee used appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation:  (a) On or about August 13, 2024, and at times thereafter, in the cultured marble production area, employees dispensing and pouring chemicals including methyl ethyl ketone peroxide and acetone did not wear eye protection.  (b) On or about September 26, 2024, in the cultured marble production area, employees using compressed air to clean molds did not wear eye protection.  (c) On or about June 14, 2024, in the finishing area, employees manually applying a mixture of styrene resin and methyl ethyl ketone peroxide during manufacture of fiberglass shower pan liners did not wear eye protection.

Issued

Dec 13, 2024

Abate by

May 14, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.138(a): The employer did not select and require employee(s) to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands were exposed to hazards such as those from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasion; punctures; chemical burns; thermal burns; and harmful temperature extremes:  (a) On or about June 14, 2024, and at times prior and thereafter, in the cultured marble production area, employees exposed to skin contact hazards during gel coat spraying did not wear hand protection.  (b) On or about June 14, 2024, and at times prior and thereafter, in the cultured marble production area, employees exposed to skin contact hazards during cultured marble casting did not wear hand protection.  (c) On or about August 13, 2024, in the cultured marble production area, employees exposed to skin contact hazards when using acetone to clean spray equipment did not wear hand protection.  (d) On or about June 14, 2024, and at times prior and thereafter, in the cultured marble production area, employees were exposed to skin contact hazards when using acetone to clean their hands.

Issued

Dec 13, 2024

Abate by

May 14, 2025

Penalty

Initial $4,839 · Current $3,017 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) On or about June 14, 2024, the employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with worksite specific procedures for employees required to wear respirators during cultured marble production and finishing operations.

Issued

Dec 13, 2024

Abate by

May 14, 2025

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) On or about June 14, 2024, and at times prior and thereafter, in the cultured marble production and finishing areas, employees were required to wear respirators without first being medically evaluated to determine their fitness to wear the respirators.

Issued

Dec 13, 2024

Abate by

May 14, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator:  (a) On or about June 14, 2024, and at times prior and thereafter, in the cultured marble production and finishing areas, employees were required to wear respirators without first being fit tested.

Issued

Dec 13, 2024

Abate by

May 14, 2025

Penalty

Initial $8,067 · Current $3,017 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.151(c): Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:  (a) On or about June 14, 2024, and at times prior and thereafter, in the cultured marble production and finishing areas, employees exposed to methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, an injurious corrosive material, did not have access to suitable facilities for quick drenching of the eyes within the work area for emergency use.

Issued

Dec 13, 2024

Abate by

May 14, 2025

Penalty

Initial $8,067 · Current $3,017 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) In the finishing area, 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 during finishing operations.  An employee was exposed to respirable crystalline silica at an 8-hour time-weighted average concentration of 25 ug/m3.  Sampling was performed for 417 minutes during one shift on September 26, 2024.  Zero exposure was assumed for time not sampled.

Issued

Dec 13, 2024

Abate by

May 14, 2025

Penalty

Initial $8,067 · Current $3,018 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). The employer did not ensure that each employee was trained in accordance with the provisions of HCS and paragraph (j)(3) of this section. The employer did not ensure that at least the following hazards were addressed: Cancer, lung effects, immune system effects, and kidney effects:   (a) On or about September 26, 2024, in the finishing area, employees were exposed to respirable crystalline silica and the employer did not include respirable crystalline silica in a hazard communication program.  Employees were not trained on the contents of the silica standard, 29 CFR 1910.1053, in accordance with the provisions of 1910.1053(j)(3), and on the health hazards of silica, including cancer, lung effects, immune system effects, and kidney effects.

Issued

Dec 13, 2024

Abate by

May 14, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 June 14, 2024, the employer did not develop, implement, and maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program for employees exposed to hazardous chemicals including, but not limited to, styrene, methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, acetone, and respirable crystalline silica.