Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 005 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) On or about January 13, 2022, and times prior thereto, a material handler employee was pouring concrete aggregate materials and was exposed to respirable crystalline silica at an eight-hour time-weighted average of 87.9 micrograms per cubic meter of air, approximately 1.75 times 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air. This limit is established to prevent silicosis and lung cancer. Sampling was performed for 449 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time of 31 minutes; (b) On or about January 13, 2022, and times prior thereto, a material handler employee was pouring concrete aggregate materials and exposed to respirable crystalline silica at an eight-hour time-weighted average of 570.6 micrograms per cubic meter of air, approximately 11.4 times 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air. This limit is established to prevent silicosis and lung cancer. Sampling was performed for 428 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time of 52 minutes; (c) On or about January 13, 2022, and times prior thereto, a finisher employee was performing hand grinding operations and was exposed to respirable crystalline silica at an eight-hour time-weighted average of 116 micrograms per cubic meter of air, approximately 2.32 times 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air. This limit is established to prevent silicosis and lung cancer. Sampling was performed for 464 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled time of 16 minutes.