Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 002 Hazard: UNAPOPPROC

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 permanent hearing loss due to exposure to elevated noise levels: At the establishment - Employees were subject to permanent hearing loss due to exposure to noise levels exceeding the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 90 decibels measured in the A range (8 hr. TWA) and Action Level of 85 decibels measured in the A range (8 hr. TWA) as established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). 90 decibels measured in the A range in the maximum allowable dose (100%) allowed over an 8 hour workday as established by OSHA. For any sampling period listed below less than 480 minutes (8 hours), the calculation of the TWA assumes zero exposure for the balance of the time unsampled. In the following instances, employees were exposed to noise exceeding the PEL: a)Barn #55, (12/21/98) - Wash Crew employee performing cleaning power washing of barn using high pressure water for 300 minutes was exposed to excessive noise levels. The employees measured eight hour time weighted average exposure (8 hr. TWA) was equal to 93.7 dbA. b)Barn #55, (12/21/98) - Wash Crew employee performing cleaning power washing of barn using high pressure water for 300 minutes was exposed to excessive noise levels. The employees measured eight hour time weighted average exposure (8 hr. TWA) was equal to 92.5 dbA. DECOSTER EGG FARMS AND ITS SUCCESSORS WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD OR ITS EQUIVALENT STANDARD, SECTION 5(A)(1), WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 122375512, CITATION NUMBER 2, ITEM 81, ISSUED ON 07/12/96, WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED IN TURNER, MAINE.,