Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 012B Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(1): Methods of compliance-(1) Engineering and work practice controls. The employer shall 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. Wherever such feasible engineering and work practice controls are not sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the PEL, the employer shall nonetheless use them to reduce employee exposure to the lowest feasible level and shall supplement them with the use of respiratory protection that complies with the requirements of paragraph (g) of this section. The employer failed to implement engineering and work practice controls to assure employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica was below the permissible exposure limit. Employees with exposure in excess of the PEL included, but is not limited to, the following documented employee exposures: a. On or about April 30, 2019, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing Loop Line Mill Operator duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 100.78 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 474 minute sampling period which was approximately 2.01 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the six minutes not sampled. b. On or about April 30, 2019, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing South Core Room Big Mill Operator duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 87.62 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 478 minute sampling period which was approximately 1.75 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the two minutes not sampled. c. On or about April 30, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing South Core Room Trim Core Mill Operator duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 89.03 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 473 minute sampling period which was approximately 1.78 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the seven minutes not sampled. d. On or about April 30, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing Main Line Mill Operator Helper duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 122.22 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 477 minute sampling period which was approximately 2.44 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the three minutes not sampled. e. On or about April 30, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing Loop Line Mill Operator Helper duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 113.18 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 442 minute sampling period which was approximately 2.26 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the 38 minutes not sampled. f. On or about April 30, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing Flask Line Mill Operator duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 136.89 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 471 minute sampling period which was approximately 2.74 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the nine minutes not sampled. g. On or about April 30, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing Flask Line Mill Helper duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 75.53 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 380 minute sampling period which was approximately 1.51 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the 100 minutes not sampled. h. On or about April 30, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing Flask Line Mill Helper duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 95.93 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 466 minute sampling period which was approximately 1.92 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the fourteen minutes not sampled. i. On or about April 30, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing Chromite Room Mill Operator duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 71.53 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 469 minute sampling period which was approximately 1.43 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the eleven minutes not sampled. j. On or about May 7, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing Shake-out Bobcat Operator duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 200.4 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 461 minute sampling period which was approximately 4.01 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the nineteen minutes not sampled. k. On or about May 7, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing Shake-out Rod Bender Machine Operator duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 95.98 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 461 minute sampling period which was approximately 1.92 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the nineteen minutes not sampled. l. On or about May 7, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing Shake-out Float/Shaker Table Operator duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 112.93 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 446 minute sampling period which was approximately 2.26 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the 34 minutes not sampled. m. On or about May 7, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing Shake-out Forklift Operator duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 164.83 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 468 minute sampling period which was approximately 3.29 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the twelve minutes not sampled. n. On or about May 17, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing Loop Line Mill Operator duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 132.53 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 476 minute sampling period which was approximately 2.65 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the four minutes not sampled. o. On or about May 17, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing Loop Line Closer duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 121.73 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 470 minute sampling period which was approximately 2.43 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the ten minutes not sampled. p. On or about May 17, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing Loop Line Clean-out duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 101.78 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 457 minute sampling period which was approximately 2.04 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the 23 minutes not sampled. q. On or about May 17, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing Loop Line Mold Wash duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 158.75 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 450 minute sampling period which was approximately 3.18 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the 30 minutes not sampled. r. On or about May 17, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing Loop Line Roll Over Operator duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 99.86 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 471 minute sampling period which was approximately 1.99 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the nine minutes not sampled. s. On or about May 17, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing Loop Line Mill Operator Helper duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 119.89 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 474 minute sampling period which was approximately 2.39 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the six minutes not sampled. t. On or about May 30, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing Main Line Mill Operator Helper duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 58.23 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 476 minute sampling period which was approximately 1.16 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the four minutes not sampled. u. On or about May 30, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing Main Line Set-up duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 92.61 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 467 minute sampling period which was approximately 1.85 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the thirteen minutes not sampled. v. On or about May 30, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing Main Line Clean-out duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 61.48 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 475 minute sampling period which was approximately 1.23 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the five minutes not sampled. w. On or about May 30, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing Main Line Mold Wash duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 100.41 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 469 minute sampling period which was approximately 2.01 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the eleven minutes not sampled. x. On or about May 30, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing Main Line Core Setter duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 132.13 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 466 minute sampling period which was approximately 2.64 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the fourteen minutes not sampled. y. On or about May 30, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing Main Line Core Setter duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 116.25 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 462 minute sampling period which was approximately 2.32 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the eighteen minutes not sampled. z. On or about June 6, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing Loop Line Mill Operator Helper duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 98.35 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 456 minute sampling period which was approximately 1.97 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the 24 minutes not sampled. aa. On or about June 6, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing South Core Room Trim Core Mill Table/Numbers duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 69.70 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 451 minute sampling period which was approximately 1.39 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the 29 minutes not sampled. bb. On or about June 6, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing South Core Room Trim Core Mill Operator duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 65.71 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 466 minute sampling period which was approximately 1.31 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the fourteen minutes not sampled. cc. On or about June 6, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing South Core Room Set-up duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 68.92 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 476 minute sampling period which was approximately 1.38 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the four minutes not sampled. dd. On or about June 6, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing South Core Room Grey Flow Coat/Finisher duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 63.97 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 473 minute sampling period which was approximately 1.28 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the seven minutes not sampled. ee. On or about June 6, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing South Core Room Blue Flow Coat/Finisher duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 65.26 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 468 minute sampling period which was approximately 1.31 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the twelve minutes not sampled. ff. On or about June 6, an employee was exposed to airborne respirable crystalline silica that exceeded the PEL while performing South Core Room Crane Operator duties. The employee was exposed to a concentration of 61.05 micrograms per cubic meter as an 8-hour time weighted average during the 475 minute sampling period which was approximately 1.22 times the PEL. Zero exposure was assumed for the five minutes not sampled. Silicosis and cancer are illnesses associated with exposure to airborne respirable crystalline silica.