OSHA Inspection: GT STONE GRANITE LLC

Issued

2025-01-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-03-28 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5675.00 · Current $3670.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8110

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 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:  a) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to noise hazards, in that a polisher tasked with polishing stone countertops was exposed to high noise at an 8-hour TWA of 93.8 dBA. This level exceeded the time-weighted average action level for noise (85 dBA). The exposure was derived from a sample collected for a 425-minute sampling period. Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the time not sampled.  b) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to noise hazards, in that a polisher tasked with polishing stone countertops was exposed to high noise at an 8-hour TWA of 93.6 dBA. This level exceeded the time-weighted average action level for noise (85 dBA). The exposure was derived from a sample collected for a 415-minute sampling period. Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the time not sampled.  c) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to noise hazards, in that a fabricator tasked with cutting stone countertops  was exposed to high noise at an 8-hour TWA of 101.8 dBA. This level exceeded the time-weighted average action level for noise (85 dBA). The exposure was derived from a sample collected for a 401-minute sampling period. Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the time not sampled.  d) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to noise hazards, in that a polisher tasked with polishing stone countertops was exposed to high noise at an 8-hour TWA of 89.3 dBA. This level exceeded the time-weighted average action level for noise (85 dBA). The exposure was derived from a sample collected for a 404-minute sampling period. Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the time not sampled.

Issued

2025-01-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-04-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 8110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.95(b)(1): When employees were subjected to sound exceeding those listed in Table G-16, feasible administrative or engineering controls were not utilized:   a) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to noise hazards, in that a polisher tasked with polishing stone countertops was exposed to high noise at an 8-hour TWA of 93.8 dBA. This level exceeded the time-weighted average action level for noise (85 dBA). The exposure was derived from a sample collected for a 425-minute sampling period. Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the time not sampled.  b) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to noise hazards, in that a polisher tasked with polishing stone countertops was exposed to high noise at an 8-hour TWA of 93.6 dBA. This level exceeded the time-weighted average action level for noise (85 dBA). The exposure was derived from a sample collected for a 415-minute sampling period. Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the time not sampled.  c) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to noise hazards, in that a fabricator tasked with cutting stone countertops  was exposed to high noise at an 8-hour TWA of 101.8 dBA. This level exceeded the time-weighted average action level for noise (85 dBA). The exposure was derived from a sample collected for a 401-minute sampling period. Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the time not sampled.  d) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to noise hazards, in that a polisher tasked with polishing stone countertops was exposed to high noise at an 8-hour TWA of 89.3 dBA. This level exceeded the time-weighted average action level for noise (85 dBA). The exposure was derived from a sample collected for a 404-minute sampling period. Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the time not sampled.

Issued

2025-01-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-03-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5675.00 · Current $3670.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c):The employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program with required worksite-specific procedures and elements for required respirator use:  a) At Production: On or about  August 15 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards, in that a written respiratory protection program was not developed and implemented for employees that were tasked with stone cutting and grinding.

Issued

2025-01-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-04-04 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5675.00 · Current $3670.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(c): The employer did not ensure that no employee was exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica in excess of 50 µg/m3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA:  a) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards, in that a polisher tasked with polishing stone countertops was exposed to Respirable Crystalline Silica at an 8-hour TWA of 110 µg/m3. This level exceeded the Permissible Exposure Limit for RCS (50 µg/m3). The exposure was derived from a sample collected for a 452-minute sampling period. Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the time not sampled.  b) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards, in that a polisher tasked with polishing stone countertops was exposed to Respirable Crystalline Silica at an 8-hour TWA of 110 µg/m3. This level exceeded the Permissible Exposure Limit for RCS (50 µg/m3). The exposure was derived from a sample collected for a 443-minute sampling period. Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the time not sampled.  c) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards, in that a polisher tasked with polishing stone countertops was exposed to Respirable Crystalline Silica at an 8-hour TWA of 62 µg/m3. This level exceeded the Permissible Exposure Limit for RCS (50 µg/m3). The exposure was derived from a sample collected for a 443-minute sampling period. Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the time not sampled.  d) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards, in that a polisher tasked with polishing stone countertops was exposed to Respirable Crystalline Silica at an 8-hour TWA of 240 µg/m3. This level exceeded the Permissible Exposure Limit for RCS (50 µg/m3). The exposure was derived from a sample collected for a 431-minute sampling period. Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the time not sampled.

Issued

2025-01-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-04-04 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:  a) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards, in that a polisher tasked with polishing stone countertops, using wet cutting methods,  was exposed to Respirable Crystalline Silica at an 8-hour TWA of 110 µg/m3. This level exceeded the Permissible Exposure Limit for RCS (50 µg/m3). The exposure was derived from a sample collected for a 452-minute sampling period. Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the time not sampled.   b) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards, in that a polisher tasked with polishing stone countertops, using wet cutting methods, was exposed to Respirable Crystalline Silica at an 8-hour TWA of 110 µg/m3. This level exceeded the Permissible Exposure Limit for RCS (50 µg/m3). The exposure was derived from a sample collected for a 443-minute sampling period. Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the time not sampled.  c) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards, in that a polisher tasked with polishing stone countertops, using wet cutting methods, was exposed to Respirable Crystalline Silica at an 8-hour TWA of 62 µg/m3. This level exceeded the Permissible Exposure Limit for RCS (50 µg/m3). The exposure was derived from a sample collected for a 443-minute sampling period. Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the time not sampled.  d) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards, in that a polisher tasked with polishing stone countertops, using wet cutting methods, was exposed to Respirable Crystalline Silica at an 8-hour TWA of 240 µg/m3. This level exceeded the Permissible Exposure Limit for RCS (50 µg/m3). The exposure was derived from a sample collected for a 431-minute sampling period. Exposure calculations included a zero increment for the time not sampled.

Issued

2025-01-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-04-04 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5675.00 · Current $3670.00 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) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards, in that the employer did not asses 8- hour TWA exposures to Respirable Crystalline Silica for  a polisher tasked with polishing stone countertops.  b) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards, in that the employer did not asses 8- hour TWA exposures to Respirable Crystalline Silica for  a polisher tasked with polishing stone countertops.  c) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards, in that the employer did not asses 8- hour TWA exposures to Respirable Crystalline Silica for  a polisher tasked with polishing stone countertops.   d) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards, in that the employer did not asses 8- hour TWA exposures to Respirable Crystalline Silica for  a fabricator tasked with cutting stone countertops.

Issued

2025-01-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-04-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5675.00 · Current $3670.00 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) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards, in that an exposure control plan that included a description of the tasks in the workplace that involved exposure to silica, a description of the engineering controls, work practices, respiratory protection and housekeeping rules, was not developed and implemented while polishers, fabricators and CNC machine operators were tasked with cutting and polishing stone countertops.

Issued

2025-01-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-04-04 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5675.00 · Current $3670.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(j)(3)(i): The employer did ensure that each employee covered by this section could demonstrate knowledge and understanding of  the health hazards associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica; specific tasks in the workplace that could result in exposure to respirable crystalline silica; specific measures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to respirable crystalline silica; the contents of this section; and the purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program required by paragraph (i) of this section:   a) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards, in that training related to the exposure, tasks, control measures, training contents and purpose of medical evaluations was not given to polishers, fabricators and CNC machine operators when tasked with cutting and polishing stone countertops.

Issued

2025-01-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-04-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5675.00 · Current $3670.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(i)(2): The employer did not make available an initial (baseline) medical examination within 30 days after initial assignment when the employee had not received a medical examination that meets the requirements of this section within the last three years:   a) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards, in that a medical evaluation prior to initiating the work at the establishment, was not provided to polishers, fabricators and CNC machine operators when tasked with cutting and polishing stone countertops.

Issued

2025-01-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-03-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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) Production: On or about October 25, 2024, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to safety and health hazards, in that the hazard assessment was not documented through a written certification while employees performed polishing and cutting stone countertops using wet methods.

Issued

2025-01-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-03-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $531.00 · Current $350.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(e)(1): The employer did not establish a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica was, or could have been reasonably expected to be, in excess of the PEL:  a) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards, in that the employer failed to establish a demarcated and regulated work area, that had concentrations of respirable crystalline silica above the PEL.

Issued

2025-01-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-03-24 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9000

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) Production: On or about October 25, 2024 and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to respiratory hazards, in that signage indicating presence of Respirable Crystalline Silica out front of the areas was not posted while levels of RCS were above the PEL.

Issued

2025-01-31 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-04-11 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9000

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) Production:  On or about October 25, 2024, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to chemical hazards, in that a written hazard communication program was not implemented, when employees were tasked with handling hazardous chemicals such as but not limited to Respirable Crystalline Silica and KBond VIVID Knife Grade Vinyl Resin.