OSHA Inspection: BETTER THAN LOGS, INC

Issued

2019-06-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-07-22 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1932.00 · Current $966.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3): Sprocket wheels and chains which were seven -7 feet or less above floors or platforms were not enclosed:    a) Better than Logs, Drummond MT: On January 8, 2019, and at times prior, employees manufacturing concrete log siding were exposed to caught in hazards while operating and working in and around a dry conveyor that has unguarded sprocket wheels and chains on both sides.

Issued

2019-06-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-08-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1932.00 · Current $966.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1): A written respiratory protection program that included the provisions in 29 CFR 1910.134(c)(1)(i) - (ix) with worksite specific procedures was not established and implemented for required respirator use:    a) Better than Logs, Drummond MT: On January 8, 2019, and at times prior, employees manufacturing concrete log siding were exposed to respirable crystalline silica. The employer did not provide medical evaluations to employees required to use the respirators as required in 1910.134(c)(1)(ii).    b) Better than Logs, Drummond MT: On January 8, 2019, and at times prior, employees manufacturing concrete log siding were exposed to respirable crystalline silica. The employer did not provide fit testing procedures for tight-fitting respirators to employees required to use the respirators as required in 1910.134(c)(1)(iii).    c) Better than Logs, Drummond MT: On January 8, 2019, and at times prior, employees manufacturing concrete log siding were exposed to respirable crystalline silica. The employer did not provide procedures for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, inspecting, repairing, discarding, and otherwise maintaining respirators of employees required to use the respirators as required in 1910.134(c)(1)(v).

Issued

2019-06-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-09-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $2576.00 · Current $1288.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(d)(1): The employer did not assess the exposure of each employee who was or may reasonably be expected to be exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level in accordance with either the performance option in paragraph (d)(2) or the scheduled monitoring option in paragraph (d)(3) of this section:     a) Better than Logs, Drummond MT: On January 8, 2019, and at times prior, employees were exposed to airborne crystalline silica exceeding the action limit of 25 micrograms per cubic meter of air while manufacturing concrete log siding. Personal air sampling performed for 469 minutes indicated an exposure at a concentration of 40.74 micrograms per cubic meter of air, approximately 1.6 times the action limit. The exposures are based on an 8 hour time weighted average sampling period; exposure calculations included zero-increment for the 11 minutes not sampled. The crystalline silica content of the sampled material was determined to be 4% quartz.     b) Better than Logs, Drummond MT: On January 8, 2019, and at times prior, employees were exposed to airborne crystalline silica exceeding the action limit of 25 micrograms per cubic meter of air while manufacturing concrete log siding. Personal air sampling performed for 397 minutes indicated an exposure at a concentration of 46.15 micrograms per cubic meter of air, approximately 1.8 times the action limit. The exposures are based on an 8 hour time weighted average sampling period; exposure calculations included zero-increment for the 83 minutes not sampled. The crystalline silica content of the sampled material was determined to be 4% quartz.     c) Better than Logs, Drummond MT: On January 8, 2019, and at times prior, employees were exposed to airborne crystalline silica exceeding the action limit of 25 micrograms per cubic meter of air while manufacturing concrete log siding. Personal air sampling performed for 353 minutes indicated an exposure at a concentration of 38.97 micrograms per cubic meter of air, approximately 1.5 times the action limit. The exposures are based on an 8 hour time weighted average sampling period; exposure calculations included zero-increment for the 127 minutes not sampled. The crystalline silica content of the sampled material was determined to be 4% quartz.

Issued

2019-06-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-08-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(f)(2)(i): The employer did not establish and implement a written exposure control plan:    a) Better than Logs, Drummond MT: On January 8, 2019, and at times prior, employees were exposed to respirable crystalline silica during concrete log siding manufacturing. The employer failed to identify and document a description of the tasks in the workplace that involve exposure to respirable silica.    b) Better than Logs, Drummond MT: On January 8, 2019, and at times prior, employees were exposed to respirable crystalline silica during concrete log siding manufacturing. The employer failed to identify and document a description of the engineering controls, work practices, and respiratory protection used to limit employee exposure to respirable silica for each task.     c) Better than Logs, Drummond MT: On January 8, 2019, and at times prior, employees were exposed to respirable crystalline silica during concrete log siding manufacturing. The employer failed to identify and document a description of the housekeeping measures used to limit employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica.

Issued

2019-06-25 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-08-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9010

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1053(i)(1)(i): The employer did not make medical surveillance available at no cost to each employee, and at a reasonable time and place, for each employee who has been occupationally exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action level for 30 or more days per year:     a. Better than Logs, Drummond MT: On January 8, 2019, and at times prior, employees were exposed to airborne crystalline silica exceeding the action limit of 25 micrograms per cubic meter of air while manufacturing concrete log siding. The employer failed to provide the employees with medical surveillance for occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica.