OSHA Inspection: THERMAL REDUCTION CORPORATION

Issued

Jul 8, 1992

Abate by

Jul 14, 1992

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $4,000

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 and explosion hazard as follows:
%%
a) Magnesium Room:  Magnesium operations on or about 3/17/92.
All magnesium scrap and ingots were not stored in the indoor
designated storage areas.  All scrap magnesium pieces were
not protected prior to furnace melting.  Sulphur Hexaflouride
low level alarm system was not maintained in operable condition.
Furnaces were not cleaned weekly to remove iron scale.  Safe
practices were not taken to ensure water did not contact molten
metal.  Inspections of furnace crucibles using only a hammer
test were not adequate to locate undesirable hot spots in
crucibles.
%%
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct
the hazard is to:
1.  Ensure all remelt scrap and ingots are stored within designated
indoor area.
2.  Ensure all scrap is preheated for at least ten minutes prior
to adding it into a magnesium furnace.
3.  Ensure Sulphur Hexaflouride low level alarm is maintained
in an operable condition to provide employees warning
notification.
4.  Ensure furnaces are cleaned weekly to remove iron scale.
5.  Avoid contact of molten metal with water, (i.e., water on
floor, in pits, etc.).
6.  Perform and document furnace crucible inspections as referenced
by the Thermal Reduction's magnesium operating procedure and/or
Dow Chemical Magnesium Die Casting Manual.
%%

Issued

Jul 8, 1992

Abate by

Jul 14, 1992

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 and explosion hazard as follows:
%%
a) Magnesium Room:  Magnesium storage and fire protection on or
about 3/17/92.  One thousand pound gas furnace unit was not
equipped with a safety runoff container.  Magnesium scrap was
not stored in noncombustible bins or containers.  Aisles were not
provided between piles of magnesium ingots in the designated
indoor storage area.
%%
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct
the hazard is to conform with the requirements of NFPA 480 as
follows.
1.  Provide a safety runoff container for all melting pots
and crucibles.
2.  Store magnesium scrap in noncombustible bins or container.
3.  Establish aisles a minimum of 110 feet wide and not less
than one half the height of magnesium piles as referenced by
the National fire Protection Association, NFPA 430 - 1987.,
Chapters 2,3, and 5.
%%

Issued

Jul 8, 1992

Abate by

Jul 14, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Jul 8, 1992

Abate by

Aug 10, 1992

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $2,000 Reduced

Issued

Jul 8, 1992

Abate by

Aug 10, 1992

Issued

Jul 8, 1992

Abate by

Jul 14, 1992

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $2,000 Reduced

Issued

Jul 8, 1992

Abate by

Aug 10, 1992

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $2,000 Reduced

Issued

Jul 8, 1992

Abate by

Aug 10, 1992

Issued

Jul 8, 1992

Abate by

Aug 10, 1992

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $2,000 Reduced

Issued

Jul 8, 1992

Abate by

Jul 14, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

Issued

Jul 8, 1992

Abate by

Jul 14, 1992

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Issued

Jul 8, 1992

Abate by

Aug 10, 1992

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Issued

Jul 8, 1992

Abate by

Jul 14, 1992

Penalty

Initial $4,000 · Current $1,600 Reduced

Issued

Jul 8, 1992

Abate by

Aug 10, 1992