Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 010B Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(1): Methods of compliance-(1) Engineering and work practice controls. The employer shall use engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica to or below the PEL, unless the employer can demonstrate that such controls are not feasible. Wherever such feasible engineering and work practice controls are not sufficient to reduce employee exposure to or below the PEL, the employer shall nonetheless use them to reduce employee exposure to the lowest feasible level and shall supplement them with the use of respiratory protection that complies with the requirements of paragraph (g) of this section. (a) On or about January 9, 2020, the employer had not used engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica to or below the PEL in that in that two employees in the buffing area of the finishing department, who were sanding, buffing, and grinding on engineered marble sinks were exposed to respirable crystalline silica at a time weighted average (TWA) of 73 and 53 micrograms per cubic meter which is above the permissible exposure limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter.