OSHA Inspection: VILLA MARBLE & GRANITE INC.

Issued

Oct 15, 2025

Abate by

Sep 30, 2026

Penalty

Initial $3,972 · Current $1,986 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:  a) 407 West Main Street Norristown, PA 19401, fabrication area: On or about August 21, 2025, employees were exposed to noise above the 8 hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels as measured on the A weighting scale, and the employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program in accordance with this section.  ABATEMENT NOTE:  A comprehensive, effective hearing conservation program consisting of the following elements shall be developed and implemented for all employees whose exposure equals or exceeds 85 dBA on an 8-hour time weighted average:  1.  Initial exposure monitoring and periodic reassessment of employees to determine noise exposure.  2.  Establishment and maintenance of an audiometric testing program.  3.  Provision and enforcement of hearing protection devices where required.  4.  Institution of an initial training program for employees, as well as annual refresher training, including information on the hazards of noise, purpose of audiometric testing, and proper use of hearing protectors.  5.  Maintenance of records as they relate to employee exposure measurements, medical examinations, and training.   Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Oct 15, 2025

Abate by

Nov 13, 2025

Penalty

Initial $1,702 · Current $851 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) 407 West Main Street Norristown, PA 19401, fabrication area: On or about April 24, 2025, the employer provided and required employees to wear 3M N95 filtering facepiece respirators and the employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program in accordance with this section.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Oct 15, 2025

Abate by

Nov 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) 407 West Main Street Norristown, PA 19401, fabrication area: On or about April 24, 2025, the employer provided and required employees to wear 3M N95 filtering facepiece respirators and the employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator.  Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Oct 15, 2025

Abate by

Sep 30, 2026

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) 407 West Main Street Norristown, PA 19401, fabrication area: On or about April 24, 2025, the employer provided and required employees to wear 3M N95 filtering facepiece respirators and the employer did not provide fit-testing of respirators in accordance with this section.   Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Oct 15, 2025

Abate by

Nov 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) 407 West Main Street Norristown, PA 19401, fabrication area: On or about April 24, 2025, the employer provided and required employees to wear 3M N95 filtering facepiece respirators and the employer did  not provide employees with appropriate training on respirators in accordance with this section.   Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and states that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Oct 15, 2025

Abate by

Sep 30, 2026

Penalty

Initial $3,972 · Current $1,986 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 microgram/m3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA:  a) 407 West Main Street Norristown, PA 19401, fabrication area: On or about August 21, 2025,  an employee performing polishing on stone and engineered stone was measured to be exposed to an 8 hour time weighted average of 59 micrograms per cubic meter of respirable crystalline silica, above the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter. This exposure was measured over a period of 426 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the 54 minutes that were not sampled. The employer did not ensure that no employee was exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica in excess of 50 micrograms/m3, calculated as an 8-hour TWA.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Oct 15, 2025

Abate by

Sep 30, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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) 407 West Main Street Norristown, PA 19401, fabrication area: On or about August 21, 2025,  an employee performing polishing on stone and engineered stone was measured to be exposed to an 8 hour time weighted average of 59 micrograms per cubic meter of respirable crystalline silica, above the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter. This exposure was measured over a period of 426 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the 54 minutes that were not sampled. The employer did not implement engineering and work practice controls in accordance with this section.  Feasible abatement methods include but are not limited to:    1) Increase water flow rate on polishers used. 2) Ensure that water used for polishing is fresh water. 3) Implement work rotation for employees performing work on engineered stone. 4) Install ventilation in the work area.  ABATEMENT STEPS ARE AS FOLLOW:    STEP 1 - A written detailed plan of abatement shall be submitted to the Area Director outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee exposures to hazardous substances as referenced in this citation. This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the dates required by this citation:    1.  Evaluation of engineering control options;    2.  Selection of optimum control method and completion of design;    3.  Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures;    4.  Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls.    Note: All proposed control measures shall be approved for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. Ninety- (90) day progress reports are required during the abatement period.  (The 90 day requirement can be shortened or lengthened by the area director depending on the specific circumstances.)    STEP 2 - Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Oct 15, 2025

Penalty

Initial $3,972 · Current $1,986 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) 407 West Main Street Norristown, PA 19401, fabrication area: On or about August 21, 2025,  employees were exposed to respirable crystalline silica above the action level while performing stone polishing and fabrication duties on stone and engineered stone, and the employer did not perform initial monitoring to determine employee exposure in accordance with this section.  No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

Oct 15, 2025

Abate by

Sep 30, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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) 407 West Main Street Norristown, PA 19401, fabrication area: On or about August 21, 2025,  an employee performing polishing on stone and engineered stone was measured to be exposed to an 8 hour time weighted average of 59 micrograms per cubic meter of respirable crystalline silica, above the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter. This exposure was measured over a period of 426 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the 54 minutes that were not sampled. The employer did not establish a regulated area in accordance with this section in an area where airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica was in excess of the PEL.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Oct 15, 2025

Abate by

Nov 13, 2025

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:  a) 407 West Main Street Norristown, PA 19401, fabrication area: On or about August 21, 2025,  an employee performing polishing on stone and engineered stone was measured to be exposed to an 8 hour time weighted average of 59 micrograms per cubic meter of respirable crystalline silica, above the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter. This exposure was measured over a period of 426 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the 54 minutes that were not sampled. The employer did not establish a written silica exposure control plan in accordance with this section.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Oct 15, 2025

Abate by

Sep 30, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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 in accordance with the requirements of 1910.1053 (i)(2) paragraphs (i-vi):  a) 407 West Main Street Norristown, PA 19401, fabrication area: On or about August 21, 2025,  employees were exposed to respirable crystalline silica above the action level while performing polishing on stone and engineered stone and the employer did not provide medical surveillance in accordance with this section.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.

Issued

Oct 15, 2025

Abate by

Sep 30, 2026

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 9000

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) 407 West Main Street Norristown, PA 19401, fabrication area: On or about August 21, 2025,  employees were exposed to respirable crystalline silica above the action level while performing polishing on stone and engineered stone and the employer did not ensure that employees were trained and could demonstrate knowledge on the contents of this section and the purpose and description of the medical surveillance program.  Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.  Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.