Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 003A Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.1028(g)(2)(i): The employer did not implement a respiratory protection program in accordance with Section 1910.134(b) through (d) (except (d)(1)(iii), (d)(3)(iii)(b)(1) and (2)), and (f) through (m), which covers each employee required by 29 CFR 1910.1028 to use a respirator: a) On or about March 26, 2014, and at times prior, employees were exposed to benzene because the employer did not develop and implement a written respiratory protection program that addressed training, fit testing, cartridge change schedules and selection, use and maintenance of respirators. Air sampling conducted on March 26, 2014, showed an employee was exposed to 10.64 parts per million (ppm) of benzene during a 25 minute sampling period while preparing samples in the lab. This exposure level was approximately 2.12 times greater than the short term exposure limit (STEL) of 5ppm. During this period employees wore respirators that were not fit tested and were not properly maintained and used.