Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard:

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: On or about March 7, 2019, and at times prior thereto, an effective hearing conservation program which included noise monitoring, audiometric testing of employees, training of employees, and retention of exposure measurements as detailed in the standard was not instituted by the employer. a) Annual audiometric testing of employees exposed at or above an 8-hour TWA of 85 decibels has not been conducted since 2016; b) Annual training on hearing conservation for employees exposed at or above an 8-hour TWA of 85 decibels, to include proper fitting and use of hearing protectors, has not been conducted since December 4, 2017. c) A slab polisher was utilizing tools to polish a stone product and performing related work. The noise sampling performed for 463 minutes indicated that the employee was exposed to a 224.8% noise dose, which is equivalent to approximately 96 dB. Zero exposure was assumed for the 17 minutes not sampled. d) A slab polisher was utilizing tools to polish a stone product and performing related work. The noise sampling performed for 484 minutes indicated that the employee was exposed to a 51.4% noise dose which is equivalent to approximately 85.1 dB.