OSHA Inspection: SPECIALTY MARBLE & GRANITE INC.

Issued

2025-07-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-08-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2838.00 · Current $1500.00 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 1910.9(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:  An effective hearing conservation program which included noise monitoring, audiometric testing of employees and training of employees as detailed in the standard was not instituted by Specialty Marble & Granite Inc.  a) Countertop Fabrication Shop - On or about April 29, 2025, an employee  performing wet polishing and grinding on engineered (manufactured) stone countertops was exposed to continuous noise levels at 83.2% of the allowable OSHA 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) sound level for noise (85 dBA).  The equivalent dBA level of  83.2% is approximately 88.6 dBA. The sampling was performed for 458 minutes during an 8-hour shift on April 29, 2025.  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

2025-07-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-08-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3972.00 · Current $2100.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

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) Countertop Fabrication Shop - On or about April 29, 2025, 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 wet polishing and grinding  engineered (manufactured) stone countertops.   An employee in the fabrication area performing wet polishing and grinding on engineered (manufactured) stone countertop was exposed to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica (quartz) at 66.4 µg/m3, approximately 1.33 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 µg/m3, as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA).   The respiratory protection program shall include, at a minimum, procedures for selecting respirators; medical evaluations; fit testing; procedures for proper use in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations; procedures for cleaning, storing, inspecting, repairing and discarding respirators; employee training regarding respiratory hazards they are exposed to, proper uses and limitations of respirators; and procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of 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

2025-07-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-08-18 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) Countertop Fabrication Shop - On or about April 29, 2025, the employer did not implement a written respiratory protection program while employees were wet polishing and grinding on engineered (manufactured) stone countertops containing up to 70% crystalline silica (quartz).   An employee in the fabrication area performing wet polishing and grinding on engineered (manufactured) stone countertop was exposed to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica (quartz) at 66.4 µg/m3, approximately 1.33 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 µg/m3, as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA).  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

2025-07-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-10-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3972.00 · Current $3000.00 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) Countertop Fabrication Shop - On April 29, 2025, an employee in the fabrication area performing wet polishing and grinding on engineered (manufactured) stone countertop was exposed to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica (quartz) at 66.4 µg/m3, approximately 1.33 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 µg/m3, as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). The exposure level was derived from a sample taken over a 411-minute period on April 29, 2025. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period.  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

2025-07-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-10-30 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) Countertop Fabrication Shop - On April 29, 2025, an employee in the fabrication area performing wet polishing and grinding on engineered (manufactured) stone countertop was exposed to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica (quartz) at  66.4 µg/m3, approximately 1.33 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50  µg/m3 as an 8-hour time-weighted average. The exposure level was derived from a sample taken over a 411-minute period on April 29, 2025. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period.   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 obtain recommendations to implement appropriate engineering controls such as designated water-wall dust extractors.  Prepare design documentation for the successful installation of recommended equipment including training workers to position themselves to perform grinding and polishing operations within the dust extractor's enclosure.  2. Evaluate all equipment used for manual grinding and polishing operations to ensure that it is functioning as designed and the water flow rate is adjusted per the manufacturer's recommendations.     3. Perform periodic maintenance checks on any equipment with integrated water delivery system to ensure that the system, including water flow rates and dispersion is functioning as designed in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations.   4. Establish and implement an effective housekeeping program, using wet sweeping or HEPA-filtered vacuuming to ensure that all dust is promptly & regularly removed to prevent the accumulation of silica containing dust on horizontal surfaces.  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 August 18, 2025.  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 September 8, 2025.  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 September 30, 2025.  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

2025-07-23 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3972.00 · Current $2100.00 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) Countertop Fabrication Shop - On or about March 19, 2025, the employer did not evaluate the exposure of an employee to respirable crystalline silica dust when operating a bridge wet saw to cut engineered (quartz) stone slabs containing up to 70 % crystalline silica quartz.   b) Countertop Fabrication Shop - On or about March 19, 2025, the employer did not evaluate the exposure of an employee to respirable crystalline silica dust when operating a pneumatic wet polisher and a pneumatic wet angle grinder to polish and grind engineered (quartz) stone countertops containing up to 70% crystalline silica quartz.  An employee in the fabrication area performing wet polishing and grinding on engineered (manufactured) stone countertop was exposed to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica (quartz) at 66.4 µg/m3, approximately 1.33 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 µg/m3, as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA).   No abatement documentation is required for this item.

Issued

2025-07-23 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3972.00 · Current $2135.00 Reduced

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 described how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) would be met:  a) Countertop Fabrication Area - On or about March 19, 2025, the employer did not develop or implement a written hazard communication program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1) that would describe or include at least the following:  1) Requirement for labeling and other forms of warning; 2) Safety data sheet availability; 3) Employee information and training; 4) A list of hazardous chemicals known to be present in the workplace;  5) Methods to inform employees of the hazards on non-routine tasks; and  6) Methods to provide other employer(s) access to safety data sheet; information on any precautionary measures and the labeling system used in the workplace.  Employee(s) were exposed to hazardous chemicals including but not limited to: Quartz and Granite stone countertop material containing 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

2025-07-23 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

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):     29 CFR  1910.1053(j)(1): The employer did not ensure that at lease the following hazards were addressed:  Cancer, lung effects, immune system effects, and kidney effects:  a) Countertop Fabrication Area - On or about March 19, 2025, the employer did not include respirable crystalline silica in the hazard communication program. Employees are exposed to respirable crystalline silica when performing wet cutting, polishing and grinding on engineered (manufactured) stone countertops containing up to 70% crystalline silica (quartz). One employee was exposed above 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 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

2025-07-23 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3972.00 · Current $2500.00 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) Countertop Fabrication Shop - On or about March 19, 2025, the employer did not establish and implement a written exposure control plan while employees were wet cutting, grinding and polishing engineered stone countertops containing up to 70%  crystalline silica quartz.   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.  No abatement documentation is required for this item.

Issued

2025-07-23 00:00:00

Abate by

2025-08-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3972.00 · Current $0.00 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) Countertop Fabrication Shop - On or about April 29, 2025, the employer did not conduct medical surveillance for an employee who work in the production area and had been exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year. An employee was polishing and grinding engineered stone containing up to 70% crystalline silica quartz.   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.