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

29 CFR 1910.1053(h)(2)(i): The employer allowed compressed air to be used to clean clothing or surfaces where such activity could contribute to employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica without being used in conjunction with a ventilation system to capture blown dust: (a) Super Stone Global Inc. located at 87 14th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215 Employees working in the warehouse, conducting the fabrication of stone products are exposed to the hazard of chemicals such as but not limited to respirable crystalline silica (RCS). Personal air sampling results revealed that employees are exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica at 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) concentrations of 280.3 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3), approximately 5.61 times the permissible exposure limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, during stone grinding operations. The employer did not ensure that employees refrained from using compressed air for cleaning surfaces and clothing where the activity contributes to employee exposure over the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit. The employer did not ensure that when an employee used compressed air to clean a stone polishing workstation a ventilation system was used to capture blown dust. The employer also did not ensure that when an employee used compressed air to clean a stone polishing workstation, effective personal protective equipment such as but not limited to eye protection was used to prevent crystalline silica particles being blown into the eyes. Condition observed on or about December 27, 2023