OSHA Inspection: GRIER ABRASIVE CO., INC.

Issued

2024-07-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-09-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $9680.00 · Current $6000.00 Reduced

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 finishing department, an employee performing finishing operations, was exposed to continuous noise levels at 67.92% of the permissible daily dose level, when measured with an 80 dBA threshold, or an average equivalent sound level of the approximately 87.2 dBA for the 480 minute sampling time on June 25, 2024.

Issued

2024-07-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-09-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4839.00 · Current $3000.00 Reduced

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 April 26, 2024, in the mixing department, an employee required to transfer 2-furancarboxaldehyde (furfural) was required to wear respiratory protection including a half mask tight fitting respirator.  The employer failed to develop and implement a written respiratory protection program, which included worksite specific procedures, thereby exposing employees to respiratory system illnesses.    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

2024-07-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-09-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator, before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:  a)  On or about April 26, 2024, in the mixing department, an employee required to transfer 2-furancarboxaldehyde (furfural) was required to wear respiratory protection including a half mask tight fitting respirator.  The employer had not ensured that the employee required to wear respirator protection had been provided with a medical evaluation.

Issued

2024-07-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-09-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(f)(2): Employee(s) using tight-fitting facepiece respirators were not fit tested prior to initial use of the respirator:  a) On or about April 26, 2024, in the mixing department, an employee required to transfer 2-furancarboxaldehyde (furfural) was required to wear respiratory protection including a half mask tight fitting respirator.  The employer failed to ensure the employee required to use respiratory protection was provided with a fit test prior to the initial use of the respirator, thereby exposing employees to respiratory system illnesses.

Issued

2024-07-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-09-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $0.00 · Current $0.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.134(k)(1): The employer did not provide effective training to ensure that each employee could demonstrate knowledge of 1910.134(k)(1)(i) - (vii):  a) On or about April 26, 2024, in the mixing department, an employee required to transfer 2-furancarboxaldehyde (furfural) was required to wear respiratory protection including a half mask tight fitting respirator.  The employer did not ensure the employee could demonstrate knowledge of the required training elements of the standard including, but not limited to, why respiratory protection is necessary, factors that compromise protection, proper fit, proper use, limitations and capabilities, change schedules, emergency use, inspection, maintenance and/or storage, general requirements of 29 CFR 1910.134, and how to recognize medical signs and symptoms.

Issued

2024-07-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-09-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $9680.00 · Current $6000.00 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 May 1, 2024, in the facility, an employee was 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

2024-07-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-09-16 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $9680.00 · Current $0.00 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 May 1, 2024, in the mixing department, an employee was exposed to Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) while performing mixing operations and interacting with RCS containing materials.   The exposed employee was 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

2024-07-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-09-16 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 April 26, 2024, 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) Safety data sheet availability; 2) A complete list of hazardous chemicals known to be present in the workplace; 3) Methods to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine tasks; and 4) 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 2-furancarboxaldehyde (furfural).

Issued

2024-07-19 00:00:00

Abate by

2024-09-16 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 April 26, 2024, in the facility, 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 furfural.