Violation Detail
Standard Cited: 19101053 F01
Inspection Nr: 1786712.015
Citation: 01006B
Citation Type: Serious
Abatement Status:
Initial Penalty: $0.00
Current Penalty: $0.00
Issuance Date: 04/09/2025
Nr Instances: 1
Nr Exposed: 2
Abatement Date: 09/02/2025
Gravity: 10
Report ID: 0524200
Contest Date:
Final Order: 05/07/2025
Related Event Code (REC):
Emphasis:
Substance: 9000
Type | Latest Event | Event Date | Penalty | Abatement Due Date | Citation Type | Failure to Abate Inspection |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Penalty | I: Informal Settlement | 05/07/2025 | $0.00 | 09/02/2025 | Serious | |
Penalty | Z: Issued | 04/09/2025 | $0.00 | 07/10/2025 | Serious |
Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 006B Hazard:
229 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: Feasible engineering controls and work practices were not instituted to reduce and maintain employee exposures to crystalline silica at or below the permissible exposure limit: a) On January 27, 2025, an employee in the production area conducting marble, engineered stone and granite countertop polishing and grinding operations was exposed to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica (quartz), a carcinogen, at 186 �g/m3, approximately 3.75 times over the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 �g/m3 as an 8-hour time-weighted average. The PEL was established to prevent silicosis and lung cancer. The exposure level was derived from a sample taken over a 453 minute period during the first shift starting on January 27, 2025. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 27 minutes. b) On January 27, 2025, an employee in the production area conducting marble, engineered stone and granite countertop cutting operations utilizing a bridge saw was exposed to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica (quartz), a carcinogen, at 95.1 �g/m3, approximately 1.9 times over the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 �g/m3 as an 8-hour time-weighted average. The PEL was established to prevent silicosis and lung cancer. The exposure level was derived from a sample taken over a 439 minute period during the first shift starting on January 27, 2025. Zero exposure was assumed for the unsampled period of 41 minutes. General methods of control applicable in this circumstance include, but are not limited to the following: 1. Seek the expertise of a competent individual such as an engineer or certified industrial hygienist to obtain recommendations to implement appropriate engineering controls such as designated local exhaust ventilation or water-wall dust extractors. Prepare design documentation for the successful installation of recommended equipment including training workers to position themselves to perform grinding and polishing operations within the dust extractor's enclosure. 2. Evaluate all equipment used for manual grinding and polishing operations to ensure that it is functioning as designed and the water flow rate is adjusted per the manufacturer's recommendations. 3. Perform periodic maintenance checks on any equipment with integrated water delivery system to ensure that the system, including water flow rates and dispersion is functioning as designed in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations. 4. Establish and implement an effective housekeeping program, using wet sweeping or HEPA-filtered vacuuming to ensure that all dust is promptly & regularly removed to prevent the accumulation of silica containing dust on horizontal surfaces. STEP 1: Effective respiratory protection shall be provided and used by exposed employees as an interim protective measure until feasible engineering and/or administrative controls can be implemented, or whenever such controls fail to reduce employee exposure to the respirable dust permissible exposure limits. Abatement due by April 30, 2025. STEP 2: Submit to the area director a written, detail plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measure to control employee exposure to hazardous substances as referenced in this citation. This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following action which must be consistent with the abatement dates required by this citation. Abatement due by May 21, 2025. 1) Evaluation of engineering/administrative control options; 2) Selection of optimum control methods and completion of design; 3) Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures; and 4) Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls. STEP 3: Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering and/or administrative controls upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance. Abatement due by July 9, 2025. In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19 (d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstration that abatement is complete must be included with your certification. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.