Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: DUST&FUMES

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that the employer did not institute a medical surveillance program for all employees who were or could be exposed to crystalline silica at or above the OSHA PEL: a) Quincy Castings, Inc. - Quincy, Ohio: On or about January 31, 2007, employees operating a 30 inch snag grinder in the cleaning room were overexposed to respirable crystalline silica dust at an eight-hour time weighted average concentration of 1.95 milligrams per cubic meter which was equivalent to 199of the OSHA permissible exposure limit of 0.98 milligrams per cubic meter. The employer did not develop and implement an effective medical surveillance program to protect workers against the early onset of silicosis. b) Quincy Castings, Inc. - Quincy, Ohio: On or about January 31, 2007, employees working in the shakeout area who were responsible for shaking out castings were overexposed to respirable crystalline silica at an eight-hour time weighted average concentration of 1.16 milligrams per cubic meter which was 152of the OSHA permissible exposure limit of 0.765 milligrams per cubic meter. The employer did not develop and implement an effective medical surveillance program to protect workers against the early onset of silicosis. c) Quincy Castings, Inc. - Quincy, Ohio: On or about January 31, 2007, employees operating a 30 inch snag grinder in the cleaning department were overexposed to respirable crystalline silica at an eight-hour time weighted average concentration of 1.8 milligrams per cubic meter which was 183of the OSHA permissible exposure limit of 0.982 milligrams per cubic meter. The employer did not develop and implement an effective medical surveillance program to protect workers against the early onset of silicosis. d) Quincy Castings, Inc. - Quincy, Ohio: On or about January 31, 2007, employees operating the wheelabrator in the cleaning department were overexposed to respirable crystalline silica at an eight-hour time weighted average concentration of 1.49 milligrams per cubic meter which was 213of the OSHA permissible exposure limit of 0.698 milligrams per cubic meter. The employer did not develop and implement an effective medical surveillance program to protect workers against the early onset of silicosis. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard would be to; Provide pre-placement baseline medical examinations to employees who are potentially exposed to crystalline silica at one-half the permissible exposure limit or more, which contain the following elements: 1.A medical examination emphasizing the respiratory system, as well as an occupational and medical history; 2.A chest roentgenogram (X-ray), posteroanterior 14" x 17" or 14" x 14", classified according to the 1980 ILO International Classification of Radiographsof Pneumoconiosis (ILO, 1982), and read by a board-certified radiologist or certified class "B" reader. Provide a medical examination emphasizing the respiratory system and a chest X-ray every three years to workers who have less than 15 years of crystalline silica exposure, every two years if the worker has 15 to 20 years of exposure, and annually if the worker has 20 or more years of exposure. 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.