Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002C Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): To achieve compliance with paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section, administrative or engineering controls must first be determined and implemented whenever feasible. When such controls are not feasible to achieve full compliance, protective equipment or any other protective measures shall be used to keep the exposure of employees to air contaminants within the limits prescribed in this section. Any equipment and/or technical measures used for this purpose must be approved for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist or other technically qualified person. Whenever respirators are used, their use shall comply with 1910.134. a) On or about July 25, 2023, at the workplace located at 5843 Tower Drive, Florence, Wisconsin; the employer did not determine and implement feasible administrative or engineering controls to achieve compliance with paragraph (a) of this section. On this date, an employee was exposed to airborne iron dust that exceeded the permissible exposure limit (PEL) while performing routine Saw Filer duties that included sharpening bandsaw blades. The employee was exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 34.9 milligrams per cubic meter of iron dust, approximately 2.32 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 15 milligrams per cubic meter for the total dust fraction of particulate not otherwise regulated (PNOR) listed in Table Z-1. Zero exposure assumed for the unsampled period of 51 minutes. Inhalation hazards associated with elevated exposures to iron dust include increased risk for pneumoconiosis. Applicable engineering or administrative controls may include, but are not limited to the following: Step 1: Effective respiratory protection shall be provided and used by exposed employees as an interim protective measure until feasible engineering and/or administrative dust controls can be implemented or whenever such controls fail to reduce employee exposure to within permissible exposure limits. For selection of appropriate respiratory protection equipment, actual time weighted averages for employee exposure must be used to determine maximum use concentrations. Step 1 abatement due January 18, 2024. Step 2: Submit to the Area Director a written, detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or administrative measures to control employee exposure to hazardous substances as referenced in this citation. This plan shall include, at the minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the abatement dates required by this citation: 1. Evaluation and listing of engineering/administrative dust control options. Ensure the following are considered in your control options evaluation: analysis of existing emission sources, the worker proximity to the dust emission source(s) and the job task or tasks being performed; 2. Selection criteria for control method(s), selection of the optimum control methods and completion of design; 3. Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures; 4. Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls. All proposed control measures shall be approved for each particular use by a competent industrial hygienist, certified industrial ventilation specialist experienced in complex processes or other technically qualified person. Identify the person and qualifications in the report of plan to the Area Director. Step 2 abatement due February 18, 2024. 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. Submission to the Area Director of personal employee exposure air monitoring is required for documenting engineering control effectiveness. Feasible administrative and/or engineering controls could include, but is not limited to, the following: 1. Equip processes with local exhaust ventilation such as, but not limited to, downdraft collection tables, hooded work positions for anticipated job functions and slotted hoods at emission points. 2. Consider utilization of tool integrated dust capture at the point of dust generation as part of a coordinated solution with local exhaust ventilation to increase ventilation system effectiveness. 3. Place emphasis on the design phase in attempting to create a solution that is fixed in place in lieu of portable in nature. The use of fixed placement versus portable systems is one method to assure the capture ventilation is positioned in the designed placement for maximum effectiveness. 4. Consider the use of increased general dilution air (otherwise known as make-up air), during capture ventilation system design, to increase exhaust ventilation system dust capture. Introduction of targeted make-up air systems such as air islands, increasing flow into existing ventilation systems providing air into the work area and relocation of existing general dilution air ductwork are examples of dilution ventilation system improvements to increase dust capture system efficiency. 5. Consider and develop work practices for reducing emissions of particulate matter into the breathing zone through body and tool positioning. Step 3 abatement due March 18, 2024.