Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 006A Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.1053(e)(1): The employer did not establish a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica was, or could have been reasonably expected to be, in excess of the PEL: Saulo's Granite, LLC, Stone Mountain, GA - On or about January 16, 2020, employees were required to dry polishing and dry buffing granite counter tops that contains respirable silica. The employer had not established a regulated area while polishing/buffing, in that, the silica dust cloud generated from dry polishing was being released into the production area. The employer did not establish an adequate regulated area (signage, demarcation, and containment of dust): a) Saulo's Granite, LLC, Stone Mountain, GA- - On or about January 16, 2020, an employee dry grinding and dry buffing granite counter tops was exposed to respirable silica levels of 2690 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3), 53.8 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 ug/m3. The exposure was derived from a sample taken over 315 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the 165 minutes not sampled. b)Saulo's Granite, LLC, Stone Mountain, GA  On or about January 16, 2020, an employee dry polishing and dry buffing granite counter tops was exposed to respirable silica levels of 1,875 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3), 37.5 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 ug/m3. The exposure was derived from a sample taken over 300 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the 180 minutes not sampled. c) Saulo's Granite, LLC, Stone Mountain, GA  On or about January 22, 2020, an employee dry polishing and dry buffing granite counter tops was exposed to respirable silica levels of 3,152 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3), 63 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 ug/m3. The exposure was derived from a sample taken over 369 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the 111 minutes not sampled. d)Saulo's Granite, LLC, Stone Mountain, GA  On or about January 22, 2020, an employee dry polishing and dry buffing granite counter tops was exposed to respirable silica levels of 1,835 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3), 36.7 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 ug/m3. The exposure was derived from a sample taken over 367 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the 113 minutes not sampled. e)Saulo's Granite, LLC, Stone Mountain, GA  On or about January 22, 2020, an employee polishing and buffing granite counter tops was exposed to respirable silica levels of 367.5 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3), 7.4 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 ug/m3. The exposure was derived from a sample taken over 360 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the 120 minutes not sampled. f)Saulo's Granite, LLC, Stone Mountain, GA  On or about January 22, 2020, an employee polishing and buffing granite counter tops was exposed to respirable silica levels of 109.7 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3), 2.2 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 ug/m3. The exposure was derived from a sample taken over 329 minutes. Zero exposure was assumed for the 151 minutes not sampled. In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.