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

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d): a) Halliburton Energy Services, Wootton East Well Pad, Liberty Twp., PA: An employee, Sand Counter, was exposed to respirable crystalline silica at an 8-hour time-weighted average of 0.585 milligrams per cubic meter of air, approximately 1.5 times the calculated Permissible Exposure Limit of 0.394 milligrams per cubic meter of air. Sampling was performed for 231 minutes on April 4, 2013. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of time. The employer did not implement feasible administrative and/or engineering controls to reduce employee exposure levels to below the calculated Permissible Exposure Limit for respirable crystalline silica. ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED GENERAL METHODS OF CONTROL APPLICABLE IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING: - Utilize alternative proppants (e.g., sintered bauxite, ceramics, resin coated sand). - Discontinue the practice of transferring sand from trucks to sand movers while employees are working on top of the sand movers and/or adjacent to the thief hatches. - Utilize dust collection systems (e.g., baghouses) to capture silica dust ejected from thief hatches on top of sand movers during refilling operations. - Utilize alternative sand movers that can maintain silica exposure levels below the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit. Abatement Schedule: 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 abatement dates required by this citation: (1) Evaluation of engineering/administrative control options; (2) Selection of optimum control methods and completion of design; (3) Procurement, installation, and operation of selected control measures; (4) Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls. All proposed control measures shall be approved for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. 45-day progress reports are required during the abatement period. 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. Date by which violation must be abated: Step 1 00/00/00 Date by which violation must be abated: Step 2 00/00/00