Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 003B Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(1):The employer did not use engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica to or below the PEL, unless the employer can demonstrate that such controls are not feasible: a) 407 West Main Street Norristown, PA 19401, fabrication area: On or about August 21, 2025, an employee performing polishing on stone and engineered stone was measured to be exposed to an 8 hour time weighted average of 59 micrograms per cubic meter of respirable crystalline silica, above the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter. This exposure was measured over a period of 426 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the 54 minutes that were not sampled. The employer did not implement engineering and work practice controls in accordance with this section. Feasible abatement methods include but are not limited to: 1) Increase water flow rate on polishers used. 2) Ensure that water used for polishing is fresh water. 3) Implement work rotation for employees performing work on engineered stone. 4) Install ventilation in the work area. ABATEMENT STEPS ARE AS FOLLOW: 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 dates required by this citation: 1. Evaluation of engineering control options; 2. Selection of optimum control method and completion of design; 3. Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures; 4. Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls. Note: All proposed control measures shall be approved for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. Ninety- (90) day progress reports are required during the abatement period. (The 90 day requirement can be shortened or lengthened by the area director depending on the specific circumstances.) 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. Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photograph or video evidence of abatement or other written records.