OSHA Inspection: MOBLEY PLANT COMPANY

Issued

Jan 26, 1988

Abate by

Feb 22, 1988

Penalty

Initial $490 · Current $490

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
a fire as a result of a spark, flame, or the transfer of heat through
the metal wall of the model 3272 CMC cotton module buidler (serial
number B1368) while an employee used a torch to heat a door latch pin
from the outside with two employees inside moving cotton away from the
wall on the Dan Whitehurst Farm on or about September 23, 1987.
Among other methods, some feasible and acceptable abatement methods to
correct this hazard are:
a) When practical, objects to be welded, cut, or heated must be moved
to a designated safe location or, if the object to be welded, cut, or
heated cannot be readily moved, all movable fire hazards including
residues of combustible contents such as cotton in the vicinity must
be taken to a safe place.
If the object to be welded, cut, or heated cannot be moved and if all
the fire hazards including combustible contents such as cotton cannot
be removed, positive means must be taken to confine the heat, sparks,
and slag, and to protect the immovable fire hazards from them.
When welding, cutting, or heating is performed on shells, walls, floors,
and ceilings, since direct penetration of sparks or heat transfer may
introduce a fire hazard to an adjacent compartment, the same precautions
must be taken on the opposite side as are taken on the side on which the
welding, cutting, or heating is being performed.
Suitable fire extinguishing equipment must be immediately available in
the work area and must be maintained in a state of readiness for instant
use.