Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 006A Hazard: DUST&FUMES

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to the following conditions: No medical surveillance was developed or implemented for silicosis and related exposures. a:At the Excel interiors job site at 9250 Pinecroft, in The Woodlands, Texas, a sheetrock finisher was sanding texture and sheetrock which contained 2.5 crystalline silica, which resulted in an 8 hour time weighted average of 60.0 mppcf. The permissible exposure limit for silica with 2.5crystalline quartz is 33.3 mppcf Feasible Method of abatement may include, but are not limited to: 1. Medical Surveillance, including: (a)Baseline examination which includes a medical and occupational history to elicit data on signs and symptoms of respiratory disease prior to exposures to crystalline silica. The medical examination, emphasizing the respiratory system should be repeated every five years if under 20 years of exposure and every two years if over 20 years of exposure. The medical examination should be repeated more frequently if respiratory symptoms develop or upon the recommendation of the examining physician. (b)A baseline chest x-ray should be obtained prior to employment with a follow-up every five years if under 20 years of exposure and every two years if over 20 years of exposure. A chest x-ray may be required more frequent if determined by the examining physician. (c)Pulmonary function test (PFT): Should include FEV (forced expiratory volume in 1 second), FVC (forced vital capacity) and DLCO (diffusion lung capacity). PFTs should be obtained for a baseline examination with PFTs repeated every five years if under 20 years of exposure and every two years if over 20 years of exposure. PFTs may be required more frequently if respirable symptoms develop or if recommended by the examining physician. (d)A chest ex-ray should be obtained upon employment termination. *** Certification and Documentation of Abatement Required ***