OSHA Inspection: GRANITE RADIANCE, INC.

Issued

Feb 4, 2025

Abate by

Mar 13, 2025

Penalty

Initial $2,128 · Current $2,128

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) Primary shop area - On or about October 17, 2024, employees were required to wear filtering facepiece respirators or half-face elastomeric respirators during stone countertop fabrication and polishing, without the benefit of a written respiratory protection program.  Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Feb 4, 2025

Abate by

Mar 13, 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) Primary shop area - On or about October 17, 2024, employees were required to wear filtering facepiece respirators or half-face elastomeric respirators during stone countertop fabrication and polishing,  prior to receiving a respiratory medical evaluation.   Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Feb 4, 2025

Abate by

Mar 13, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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) Primary shop area - On or about October 17, 2024, employees were required to wear 3M Aura filtering facepiece respirators or 3M 5300 series half-face elastomeric respirators during stone countertop fabrication and polishing,  prior to receiving a respirator fit test.  Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Feb 4, 2025

Abate by

Mar 13, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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) Primary shop area - On or about October 17, 2024, employees were required to wear filtering facepiece respirators or half-face elastomeric respirators during stone countertop fabrication and polishing, prior to receiving effective respiratory protection training.  Respirator training shall include, at a minimum, why respiratory protection is necessary; factors that compromise protection; proper fit; proper use; limitations and capabilities; change schedules; emergency use; inspection; maintenance and/or storage; general requirements of 29 CFR 1910.134; and how to recognize medical signs and symptoms.  Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Feb 4, 2025

Abate by

Feb 18, 2025

Penalty

Initial $2,128 · Current $2,128

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(g)(1)(i)(A): Respirators with tight-fitting facepieces were worn by employees who had facial hair that came between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interfered with valve function:  (a) Primary shop area - On or about October 17, 2024, an employees were permitted to wear 3M Aura filtering facepiece respirators while facial hair came between the sealing surface of the facepiece and face.  Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Feb 4, 2025

Penalty

Initial $3,547 · Current $3,547

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) Primary shop area - On or about October 17, 2024, the employer did not ensure 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 was assessed. Employees were exposed to the hazards associated with respirable crystalline silica during stone countertop fabrication activities such as cutting, grinding, and polishing. Exposure to respirable crystalline silica may result in health effects including silicosis, lung cancer, other non-malignant respiratory diseases, kidney disease, immunological effects, and activation of latent tuberculosis (TB) infections.  This item was corrected during inspection.

Issued

Feb 4, 2025

Abate by

Mar 13, 2025

Penalty

Initial $3,547 · Current $3,547

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(f)(2)(i): The employer did not establish and implement a written exposure control plan:  (a) Primary shop area - On or about October 17, 2024, employees were exposed to respirable crystalline silica in excess of the action level, during stone product fabrication, without the benefit of a written exposure control plan. Exposure to respirable crystalline silica may result in health effects including silicosis, lung cancer, other non-malignant respiratory diseases, kidney disease, immunological effects, and activation of latent tuberculosis (TB) infections.  Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Feb 4, 2025

Abate by

Mar 13, 2025

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1): Employer had not developed or implemented a written hazard communication program that included the requirements outlined in 29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1)(i) and (e)(1)(ii):  (a) Primary shop area - On or about October 17, 2024, employees were exposed to respirable crystalline silica in excess of the action level as well as the chemical hazards of acetone (irritant & flammable) and Superior V-Max SV9 vinyl filler (flammable & irritant) without the benefit of a written hazard communication program.   Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Feb 4, 2025

Abate by

Mar 13, 2025

Penalty

Initial $3,547 · Current $3,547

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(i)(1)(i): Medical surveillance-(1) General. (i) The employer shall make medical surveillance available at no cost to the employee, and at a reasonable time and place, for each employee who will be occupationally exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year.  (a) Primary shop area - On or about October 17, 2024, an employee was exposed to respirable crystalline silica in excess of the action level, during stone product fabrication, prior to receiving access to medical surveillance.  Exposure to respirable crystalline silica may result in health effects including silicosis, lung cancer, other non-malignant respiratory diseases, kidney disease, immunological effects, and activation of latent tuberculosis (TB) infections.  Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Feb 4, 2025

Abate by

Mar 13, 2025

Penalty

Initial $3,547 · Current $3,547

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(j)(3)(i): The employer did not ensure that each employee covered by this section could demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the following: (A) the health hazards associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica; (B) specific tasks in the workplace that could result in exposure to respirable crystalline silica; (C) specific measures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure to respirable crystalline silica, including engineering controls, work practices, and respirators to be used; (D) the contents of this section; and, (E) the purpose and a description of the medical surveillance program required by paragraph (i) of this section:  (a) Primary shop area - On or about October 17, 2024, employees were exposed to respirable crystalline silica, during stone product fabrication, prior to receiving the information and training specified within 29 CFR  1910.1053(j)(3)(i) A through E. Exposure to respirable crystalline silica may result in health effects including silicosis, lung cancer, other non-malignant respiratory diseases, kidney disease, immunological effects, and activation of latent tuberculosis (TB) infections.  Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Feb 4, 2025

Abate by

Mar 13, 2025

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) Primary shop area - On or about October 17, 2024, employees were exposed to respirable crystalline silica in excess of the action level as well as the chemical hazards of acetone (irritant & flammable) and Superior V-Max SV9 vinyl filler (flammable & irritant), without the benefit of hazard communication training.   Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).

Issued

Feb 4, 2025

Abate by

Mar 13, 2025

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) Primary shop area - On or about October 17, 2024, safety data sheets were not maintained in the workplace for manufactured stone products (respirable crystalline silica), acetone (irritant & flammable) and Superior V-Max SV9 vinyl filler (flammable & irritant).  Abatement certification is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).