OSHA Inspection: CN GRANITE, INC.

Issued

Jul 30, 2025

Abate by

Apr 2, 2026

Penalty

Initial $3,972 · Current $2,350 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 1910.95(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 CN Granite, Inc.  a) On or about April 24, 2025, an employee using a rotating saw to cut granite countertops in the work area was exposed to continuous noise levels at 1919.2% of the allowable permissible exposure limit 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 90 dBA. The equivalent dBA level of 1919.2% is approximately 90.6 dBA. The sampling was performed for 240 minutes during one shift.

Issued

Jul 30, 2025

Abate by

Apr 2, 2026

Penalty

Initial $3,972 · Current $2,350 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(2):The employer did not verify, through a written certification, the identity of the workplace evaluated, the person certifying that the evaluation had been performed, and the date the hazard assessment was done:  a. On or about April 3, 2025, the employer did not complete a written certification of the personal protective equipment assessment. The employer provides N95 respirators, rubber apron, rubber boots, and safety glasses when cutting, finishing, and polishing stone countertops.

Issued

Jul 30, 2025

Abate by

May 4, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(2)(ii):The employer did not establish and implement those elements of a written program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily was medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator was cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user:  a.  On April 24, 2025, an employee finishing and polishing a stone countertop using an handheld rotating grinder was voluntarily wearing an N95 respirator. The employer did not establish and implement a written respirator program that includes at a minimum, the following elements:  (i) Medical evaluations to ensure employees are medically able to use a respirator.  (ii) Procedures for cleaning, storing, and maintaining the respirator to prevent a health hazard to the user.

Issued

Jul 30, 2025

Abate by

May 4, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 g/m3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA:  a) On April 24, 2025, an employee in the work area performing stone cutting operations was exposed to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica at 51.9 µg/m^3, approximately 1.36 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 µg/m^3 as an 8-hour time-weighted average. The PEL was established to prevent silicosis and lung cancer.  The exposure level was derived from a sample taken over a 245-minute period during the first shift.

Issued

Jul 30, 2025

Abate by

May 4, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 that contained at least the following elements: a description of the tasks in the workplace that involve exposure to respirable crystalline silica; a description of the engineering controls, work practices, and respiratory protection used to limit employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica for each task; and a description of the housekeeping measures used to limit employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica.   a) On or about April 24, 2025, in the facility, the employer failed to establish and implement a written exposure control plan to protect employees from Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS).

Issued

Jul 30, 2025

Abate by

May 4, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(g)(1)(iii): Respiratory protection was not provided during tasks for which an employer had implemented all feasible engineering and work practice controls and such controls were not sufficient to reduce exposures to or below the PEL:  a) On or about April 24, 2025, the employer did not ensure an employee cutting granite countertops with water was provided appropriate respiratory protection to prevent employee over exposure to respirable crystalline silica. The employee conducting stone countertop cutting for half of an 8-hour work shift exposure to respirable crystalline silica was 51.9 µg/m^3 without wearing respiratory protection.

Issued

Jul 30, 2025

Abate by

May 4, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(j)(1): The employer did not ensure that each employee was trained in accordance with the provisions of the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) and paragraphs (j)(3)(i)(A)-(j)(3)(i)(E) of this section.  a) On or about April 24, 2025, in the facility, the employees were exposed to Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) when performing cutting, polishing and interacting with RCS containing materials. Exposed employees were not trained and able to demonstrate understanding of the health effects of exposure; task(s) which could result in exposure; measures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure; purpose of the medical surveillance program and a copy of the regulations related to RCS. The employer failed to develop a hazardous communication program which included the required information related to RCS.

Issued

Jul 30, 2025

Abate by

May 4, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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) On or about April 24, 2025, the employer did not develop and 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 of containers of hazardous chemicals; 2) Safety data sheet availability; 3) Training of employees; 4) A complete list of hazardous chemicals (i.e., silica)  known to be present in the workplace; 5) Methods to inform employees of hazards on non-routine tasks; and 6) Methods to inform other employer(s) of material safety data sheet availability; the labeling system and any precautionary measures to protect employees.  Employees are required to work with granite that contains silica, exposing them to a hazardous material.

Issued

Jul 30, 2025

Abate by

Apr 2, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(k)(6):The employer did not provide the basic advisory information on respirators, as presented in Appendix D of 29 CFR 1910.134, in written or oral format to employees who wear respirators when such use was not required by the employer:  a. Paint Booth Area - On April  24, 2025, an employee finishing and polishing granite countertops was provided an N95 respirator for voluntary use. The employer did not provide the information contained in 29 CFR 1910.134, Appendix D ("Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under the Standard").