Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 013B Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d): On April 22, 2015, a wet line mixing operator was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average of 1.02 mg/m3 of respirable quartz crystalline silica, which was 1.5 times the permissible exposure limit of 0.67 mg/m3. The sample was taken over 470 minutes and zero exposure was assumed for the remaining 10 minutes. On April 22, 2015, a dry line bagger was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average of 4.04 mg/m3 of respirable quartz crystalline silica, which was 2.0 times the permissible exposure limit of 2 mg/m3. The sample was taken over 454 minutes and zero exposure was assumed for the remaining 26 minutes. 1. Consider product substitution of additives which do not contain crystalline silica. 2. Installation of localized ventilation at the Dry Base bagging operation. Ensure that the ventilation meets or exceeds the most current recommendations outlined in the Handbook of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). 3. Installation of localized ventilation in the Wet Line mixing area. Ensure that the ventilation meets or exceeds the most current recommendations outlined in the Handbook of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). 4. Research administrative controls to reduce the amount of crystalline silica released into the work environment. This may include task procedures, such as not shaking bags/containers to reduce the amount of dust released. Disclaimers: 1. The employer is not limited to the abatement methods suggested by OSHA; 2. The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all cases; and 3. The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an effective abatement. Abatement Schedule: STEP 1: Effective respiratory protection shall be provided and used by exposed employees as an interim protective measure until feasible engineering controls can be implemented or whenever such controls fail to reduce employee exposures to within permissible exposure limits. STEP 2: A written detailed plan of abatement shall be submitted to the Area Director outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering measures to control employee exposures to hazardous substances as referenced in this citation. This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with abatement dates required by this citation: 1. Evaluation of engineering 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. NOTE: All proposed control measures shall be approved for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. STEP 3: Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of feasible engineering controls upon verification of their effectiveness in achieving compliance. Date by Which Violation Must be Abated: STEP-1 XX/XX/2015 Date by Which Violation Must be Abated: STEP-2 XX/XX/2015 Date by Which Violation Must be Abated: STEP-3 XX/XX/2015