Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002B Hazard:

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 February 5, 2025, in mixing room 3, an employee required to perform mixing operations was exposed to particulates not otherwise regulated (total dust), at an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average of 76 milligrams per meter cubed (mg/m3) approximately 5 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 15 (mg/m3). The employer failed to ensure employees required to use respiratory protection were provided with a fit test prior to the initial use of the respirator(s), thereby exposing employees to respiratory system illnesses. b) On or about February 5, 2025, in the mixing room 2, an employee required to perform mixing operations was exposed to particulates not otherwise regulated (total dust), at an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average of 56 milligrams per meter cubed (mg/m3) approximately 3.7 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 15 (mg/m3). The employer failed to ensure employees required to use respiratory protection were provided with a fit test prior to the initial use of the respirator(s), thereby exposing employees to respiratory system illnesses. c) On or about February 5, 2025, in the mixing room 1, an employee required to perform mixing operations was exposed to particulates not otherwise regulated (total dust), at an 8-hour Time-Weighted Average of 31milligrams per meter cubed (mg/m3) approximately 2.1 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 15 (mg/m3). The employer failed to ensure employees required to use respiratory protection were provided with a fit test prior to the initial use of the respirator(s), thereby exposing employees to respiratory system illnesses. The Joseph's Food Products Company Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 1910.134(f)(2), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1693370, citation number 1, item number 2d and was affirmed as a final order on December 22, 2023, with respect to a workplace located at 2759 South 25th Avenue, Broadview, IL 60155.