OSHA Inspection: METAL GOODS

Issued

Feb 9, 1990

Abate by

Aug 3, 1990

Penalty

Initial $900 · Current $200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The
employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were
free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death
or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to
the hazards of hydrogen explosion and flying debris from the plasma arc
cutting process in the warehouse, bay #4, as occurred on or about
January 19, 1990.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is:
1) Keep the water in the water table changed on a frequent basis.
2) Keep the sludge in the water table cleaned out on a frequent basis.
3) Maintain the pH of the water to within + or  - one pH unit of pH7
through the use of potessium hydroxide and acetic acid.
4) Provide and utilize a sparging system to deliver a stream of air
bubbles below the cutting area in the water table - especially
when cutting thick sections of metals that react readily with water
to produce hydrogen.
5) Do not leave plates in the water table for an extended period or
overnight.