Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 003D 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, and the employer did not demonstrate that such controls are not feasible: a) Manual cutting and polishing area; On or about May 1, 2024, and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica in excess of 50 cmg/m3, calculated as an 8-hour time weight average (TWA). An employee wet and dry cutting and polishing, natural and manufactured stone countertops was exposed to respirable crystalline silica hazards at 193.18 micrograms per cubic meter which is approximately 3.86 times the permissible exposure level (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter and 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. Results were based on a 346-minute sampling period with zero exposure used for the 134 minutes not sampled. b) Manual cutting and polishing area; On or about May 1, 2024, and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica in excess of 50 cmg/m3, calculated as an 8-hour time weight average (TWA). An employee wet and dry cutting and polishing, natural and manufactured stone countertops was exposed to respirable crystalline silica hazards at 111 micrograms per cubic meter which is approximately 2.22 times the permissible exposure level (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter and 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. Results were based on a 486-minute sampling period. c) Manual cutting and polishing area; On or about May 1, 2024, and at times prior thereto, the employer exposed employees to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica in excess of 50 cmg/m3, calculated as an 8-hour time weight average (TWA). An employee wet and dry cutting and polishing, natural and manufactured stone countertops was exposed to respirable crystalline silica hazards at 139.7 micrograms per cubic meter which is approximately 2.79 times the permissible exposure level (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter and 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. Results were based on a 409-minute sampling period with zero exposure used for the 71 minutes not sampled.