OSHA Inspection: SAMBOR STONE, LTD.

Issued

2023-12-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-06-10 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5358.00 · Current $5000.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1): The employer did not administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program as described in 29 CFR 1910.9(c) through (o) whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels measured on the A scale, or equivalently a dose of fifty percent:  a.  In the facility, an employee performing polishing, was exposed to continuous noise levels at 99.6% of the permissible daily dose level, when measured with an 80 dBA threshold, or an average equivalent sound level of the approximately 89.93 dBA for the 445 minute sampling time on October 5, 2023. Exposure calculation included a zero increment for the 35 minutes not sampled.  b.  In the facility, an employee performing polishing, was exposed to continuous noise levels at 79.1% of the permissible daily dose level, when measured with an 80 dBA threshold, or an average equivalent sound level of the approximately 88.31 dBA for the 436 minute sampling time on October 5, 2023.  Exposure calculation included a zero increment for the 44 minutes not sampled.

Issued

2023-12-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-11-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6250.00 · Current $10000.00

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(c):  The employer did not ensure that no employee was exposed to an airborne concentration of respirable crystalline silica in excess of micrograms per meter cubed of air (50 ug/m3), calculated as an 8-hour TWA:  a.	On or about October 5, 2023, in the facility, an employee performing polishing operations on quartz was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 55 micrograms per meter cubed of air (ug/m3) of Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS).  The exposure level was derived from samples collected over a 436-minute sampling period with zero exposure assumed for the unsampled period of 44 minutes.  The limit was established to prevent employee from suffering from adverse health effects such as, but not limited to silicosis, lung cancer, respiratory diseases, immune system and kidney effects.

Issued

2023-12-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-08-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(f)(1): The employer did not 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:   a.  On or about October 5, 2023, in the facility, an employee performing polishing operations on quartz was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 55 micrograms per meter cubed of air (ug/m3) of Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS).  The employer failed to implement effective engineering or work practice controls to reduce employee exposure to RCS below the PEL.

Issued

2023-12-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-08-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6250.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

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 (RCS) 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.  On or about October 3, 2023, in the facility, the employer failed to evaluate employee exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) when sanding, cutting and polishing quartz.   Employees required to perform operations that generated RCS were exposed to RCS at an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 21 micrograms per meter cubed of air (ug/m3) - 55 ug/m3, approximately 0.4 - 1.1 times the OSHA PEL of 50 ug/m3 and greater than the action level of 25 ug/m3.  The employer failed to evaluate employee exposure to RCS to determine if they were exposed to RCS greater than the action level or PEL.

Issued

2023-12-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-11-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6250.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(e)(1): The employer did not establish a regulated area wherever an employee's exposure to airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica was, or could have been reasonably expected to be, in excess of the PEL:  a)  On or about October 5, 2023, in the polishing area, an employee was exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 55 micrograms per meter cubed of air (ug/m3) of Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS), approximately 1.1 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 ug/m3.  The employer failed to establish a regulated area when an employee's exposure to RCS was or could reasonably expected to be, in excess of the PEL.

Issued

2023-12-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-08-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6250.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(f)(2)(i): The employer did not establish and implement a written exposure control plan that contained at least the following elements: a description of the tasks in the workplace that involve exposure to respirable crystalline silica; a description of the engineering controls, work practices, and respiratory protection used to limit employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica for each task; and a description of the housekeeping measures used to limit employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica.  a.  On or about October 5, 2023, in the facility, the employer failed to establish and implement a written exposure control plan to protect employees from Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) when exposed to RCS greater than the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL).

Issued

2023-12-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-11-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6250.00 · Current $0.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

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.  On or about October 5, 2023, in the facility, employees were exposed to Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) above the Action Level (AL) greater than 30 days or more per year.  The employer failed to make medical surveillance available to employee(s) exposed to RCS over the AL more than 30 days per year.

Issued

2023-12-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-11-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6250.00 · Current $2500.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(g)(2): Where respirator use was required by this section, the employer did not institute a respiratory protection program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.134:  a) On or about October 5, 2023, in the facility, an employee performing polishing operations on quartz was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 55 micrograms per meter cubed of air (ug/m3) of Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS), approximately 1.1 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 ug/m3.  The employer failed to develop and implement a written respiratory protection program, which included worksite specific procedures, thereby exposing employees to silicosis, lung cancer, respiratory diseases, immune system and kidney effects.    The respiratory protection program shall include, at a minimum, procedures for selecting respirators; medical evaluations; fit testing; procedures for proper use in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations; procedures for cleaning, string, inspecting, repairing and discarding respirators; employee training regarding respiratory hazards they are exposed to, proper uses and limitations of respirators; and procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the respirator program.

Issued

2023-12-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-11-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

Hazardous substances 9000

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) On or about October 5, 2023, in the facility, an employee performing polishing operations on quartz was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 55 micrograms per meter cubed of air (ug/m3) of Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS), approximately 1.1 times the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 ug/m3.  The employer failed to develop and implement a written respiratory protection program, which included worksite specific procedures, thereby exposing employees to silicosis, lung cancer, respiratory diseases, immune system and kidney effects.    The respiratory protection program shall include, at a minimum, procedures for selecting respirators; medical evaluations; fit testing; procedures for proper use in routine and reasonably foreseeable emergency situations; procedures for cleaning, string, inspecting, repairing and discarding respirators; employee training regarding respiratory hazards they are exposed to, proper uses and limitations of respirators; and procedures for regularly evaluating the effectiveness of the respirator program.

Issued

2023-12-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-11-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6250.00 · Current $2500.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 9000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1053(j)(1): The employer did not ensure that each employee was trained in accordance with the provisions of the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) and paragraphs (j)(3)(i)(A)-(j)(3)(i)(E) of this section.  a.  On or about October 3, 2023, in the facility, employees were exposed to Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) when performing cutting, polishing and interacting with RCS containing materials.   Exposed employees were not trained and able to demonstrate understanding of the health effects of exposure;  task(s) which could result in exposure; measures the employer has implemented to protect employees from exposure; purpose of the medical surveillance program and a copy of the regulations related to RCS.  The employer failed to develop a hazardous communication program which included the required information related to RCS.

Issued

2023-12-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-08-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:  a.  On or about October 3, 2023, in the establishment, the employer failed to develop and implement a hazard communication program in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1) that would describe or include at least the following:  1) Requirement for labeling of containers of hazardous chemicals; 2) Safety data sheet availability; 3) Training of employees; 4) A complete list of hazardous chemicals known to be present in the workplace; 5) Methods to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks; and 6) Methods to inform other employer(s) of material safety data sheet availability; the labeling system and any precautionary measures to protect employees.  Employee exposure included, but was not limited to, Respirable Crystalline Silica and styrene.

Issued

2023-12-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-11-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:  a) On or about October 3, 2023, in the facility, all employees had not been trained with effective information on hazardous chemicals in their work areas such as, but not limited to, Respirable Crystalline Silica and styrene.

Issued

2023-12-20 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-11-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(2): The employer did not verify, through a written certification, the identity of the workplace evaluated, the person certifying that the evaluation had been performed, and the date the hazard assessment was done:  a.  On or about October 3, 2023, in the facility, the employer had not conducted a personal protective equipment assessment, which included the identity of the workplace evaluated, the person who conducted the evaluation and the date of the hazard assessment.  Employee exposure included, but was not limited to, styrene, ethyl benzene and noise.