Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 004 Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1): When employees were subjected to sound exceeding those listed in Table G-16, feasible administrative or engineering controls were not utilized: a.) An employee, Liz Grinder Operator A, was exposed to continuous noise at 1003% of the exposure level of 90 dBA or an 8-hour time-weighted average of 107 dBA. This exposure was observed over a 435 minute sampling period. Zero exposure was assumed for the time not sampled. The employer did not utilize feasible administrative or engineering controls to reduce sound levels for those employees exposed over the permissible exposure limit of 90 dBA, on or about 12-16-2014. b.) An employee, Liz Grinder Operator B, was exposed to continuous noise at 790% of the exposure level of 90 dBA or an 8-hour time-weighted average of 105 dBA. This exposure was observed over a 437 minute sampling period. Zero exposure was assumed for the time not sampled. The employer did not utilize feasible administrative or engineering controls to reduce sound levels for those employees exposed over the permissible exposure limit of 90 dBA, on or about 12-16-2014. c.) An employee, Steph Grinder Operator, was exposed to continuous noise at 466% of the exposure level of 90 dBA or an 8-hour time-weighted average of 102 dBA. This exposure was observed over a 437 minute sampling period. Zero exposure was assumed for the time not sampled. The employer did not utilize feasible administrative or engineering controls to reduce sound levels for those employees exposed over the permissible exposure limit of 90 dBA, on or about 12-16-2014. ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct these hazards include, but are not limited to the following: - Isolate the noise by enclosing the grinder and lining the enclosure with sound absorbing material. - Install a long feed conveyor to increase the distance from the employee work area to the feed end of the grinder. ABATEMENT NOTE: 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 noise 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. All proposed control measures shall be evaluated 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 violates must be abated: Step 1  XX/XX/XXXX Date by which violates must be abated: Step 2  XX/XX/XXXX