OSHA Inspection: BLANDEX CO.

Issued

2026-01-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-02-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3972.00 · Current $3000.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances S103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(c)(1):In any workplace where respirators are necessary to protect the health of the employees or whenever respirators are required by the employer, the employer did not establish and implement a written respiratory protection program with required worksite-specific procedures:  a) On or about September 8, 2025, the employer did not ensure that a written respiratory protection program was established and implemented for those employees required to wear respiratory protection. The employees were tuckpointing bricks containing up 20% respirable crystalline silica  with a handheld  angle grinder. The employees were required to wear a 3M N-95 8511 filtering facepiece respirator.  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 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

2026-01-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-03-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator.  a) On or about September 8, 2025,  the employer did not ensure that employees using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator. Employees were required to use a 3M-8511-N95 filtering facepiece respirator to tuckpoint bricks containing up to 20% respirable 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 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

2026-01-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-03-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances S103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(k)(1):The employer did not provide respirator training that would ensure each employee could demonstrate knowledge of items in section (i)-(vii):  a) On September 8, 2025, the employer did not ensure that each employee required to wear respiratory protection demonstrated knowledge why the respirator was necessary and how improper fit, usage, storage or maintenance can compromise the protective effect of the respirator. Employees were required to use a 3M-8511-N95 filtering facepiece respirator when tuckpointing bricks containing up to 20% respirable 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 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

2026-01-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-02-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3972.00 · Current $3000.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances S103

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) On or about September 8, 2025, at the above addressed jobsite, the employer did not develop or implement a written hazard communication program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1200 that describes at least the following:  1) Requirement for labeling of containers of hazardous chemicals: 2) Training of employees; 3) A complete list of hazardous chemicals known to be in the workplace; 4) Methods to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks; and, 5) Methods to inform other employer(s) of material safety data sheets availability; the labeling system and any precautionary measures to protect employees.  Employees were exposed to hazardous chemicals while tuckpointing bricks containing up to 20% 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 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

2026-01-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-03-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances S103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.1153(i)(1): The employer did not ensure that each employee is trained in accordance with the provisions of HCS and paragraph (i)(2) of this section:  a) On or about September 8, 2025, the employer did not include respirable crystalline silica in the program established to comply with the hazard communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). Employees were exposed to crystalline silica when tuckpointing bricks containing 20% 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 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, or written records.

Issued

2026-01-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-03-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances S103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.1153(i)(2)(i):The employer did not ensure that each covered employee could demonstrate knowledge and understanding of at least the information contained in paragraphs (A) - (F) of this section.  a) On or about September 8, 2025,  at the above mentioned address,  the employer did not ensure that each employee was trained on the health hazards associated with silica, specific tasks where exposure could occur, protective measures including respiratory protection, work practices, and engineering controls, and the identity of the competent person. Employees were exposed to crystalline silica when tuckpointing bricks containing up 20% 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 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

2026-01-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-02-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3972.00 · Current $3000.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances S103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.1153(c)(1): For each employee engaged in a task identified in Table 1, the employer did not fully and properly implement the engineering controls, work practices, and respiratory protection specified for the task on Table 1, unless the employer assesses and limits the exposure of the employee to respirable crystalline silica in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section.  a) On or about September 8, 2025, at the above mentioned address, employees of AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing Inc. did not implement engineering controls and work practices, as specified in Table 1. Employees used an angle grinder to tuckpoint bricks containing up to 20% of respirable crystalline silica (Quartz) without equipping the tool with a water delivery system that supplies a continuous stream or spray of water at the point of impact or a tool equipped with a commercially available shroud and dust collection system.  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, or written records.

Issued

2026-01-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-02-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances S103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.1153(d)(2)(i): 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)(ii) or the scheduled monitoring option in paragraph (d)(2)(iii) of this section:  a) On or about September 8, 2025 at the above mentioned address, AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing, Inc,. did not assess the exposure of employees to respirable crystalline silica when tuckpointing bricks containing up to 20% respirable 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 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, or written records.

Issued

2026-01-12 00:00:00

Abate by

2026-02-06 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3972.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances S103

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1926.1153(g)(1):The employer did not establish and implement a written exposure control plan that consists at least the following elements:  (i) A description of the tasks in the workplace that involve exposure to respirable crystalline silica; (ii) A description of the engineering controls used to limit employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica for each task; (iii) A description of the housekeeping measures used to limit employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica ; and (iv)  A description of the procedures used to restrict access to work areas, when necessary, to minimize the number of employees exposed to respirable crystalline silica and their level of exposure.  a)   On or about September 8, 2025  at the above mentioned address,  AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing, Inc did not develop and implement a Silica Exposure Control Plan with an accurate description of all the tasks in the workplace that involved exposure to respirable crystalline silica. Employees were exposed to dust containing up to 20% respirable crystalline silica (Quartz) when tuckpointing bricks.  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, or written records.