Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 003 Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1):The employer did not institute a training program and ensure employee participation in the program: HK Cooperative, Inc. DBA J.H. Routh Packing Company located at 4413 Bogart Road in Sandusky, Ohio; On or about January 4, 2024, the employer did not ensure a training program was instituted to ensure employees were informed of the following: (1) the effects of noise on hearing, (2) the purpose of hearing protectors, the advantages, disadvantages, and attenuation of various types, and instructions on selection, fitting, use, and care, and (3) the purpose of audiometric testing, and an explanation of the test procedures. Employees working in areas such as, but not limited to, the cut floor, kill floor, and conversion were exposed to hazards associated with high noise levels such as, but not limited to, hearing loss and tinnitus. Instance A On March 19, 2024, an employee, line lead in conversion, was exposed to noise at 109.1% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 91.2 decibels, as measured over 447 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 90.6 decibels accounting for the period of 33 minutes unmonitored. Instance B On March 19, 2024, an employee, lead on cut floor, was exposed to noise at 115.4% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 92.9 decibels, as measured over 369 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 91.0 decibels accounting for the period of 111 minutes unmonitored. Instance C On March 19, 2024, an employee, lead on kill floor, was exposed to noise at 156.5% of the permissible daily dose, or an average sound level of 94.0 decibels, as measured over 432 minutes of sampling. This dose is equivalent to an 8-hour TWA exposure of 92.4 decibels accounting for the period of 48 minutes unmonitored.