OSHA Inspection: FIBER MATERIALS, INC.

Issued

Oct 15, 1992

Abate by

Nov 27, 1992

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,500 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  inhalation  and  contact  hazards  from  possible   links,
ruptures,  or releases from equipment containing chlorodiphenyl (PCBs).
The following conditions contributed to the existence of  this  hazard:
a) Building 3 - Where used capacitors were employed as
integral components of graphitizers (graphite ovens) and
contained two gallons of 100PCB as the dielectric
fluid (42chlorine), the employer  did not provide a
means to prevent the capacitors from exploding and
releasing their contents into the workplace/atmosphere
in the event of a short circuit; this occurred on 07/15/92
and again on 07/18/92 and caused not only major
contamination throughout the building but exposure of at
least six employees to this hazardous material.
ABATEMENT NOTE:  Among other methods, several feasible approaches
to abatement include:
1. Replace PCB-containing capacitors with newer capacitors that do not
contain PCBs and have internal pressure sensors to take the unit
off-line prior to failure.
2. Retrofit existing PCB-containing capacitors with fuses such as
200 amp, class T type fuses that would also take the unit off line
prior to failure/rupture.
b) Building 3 - Following the release of up to two gallons
of 100PCB-containing delectric fluid (42chlorine) into
the workplace atmosphere, the employer authorized the
removal and subsequent shipment of potentially contaminated
materials such as fiber form board and graphite cloth,
without determining if these materials were contaminated.
ABATEMENT NOTE:  Abatement should consist of either proper disposal
of potentially contaminated items or measuring (quantifying) surface
contamination by wipe/bulk sample analysis of materials prior to
removal from the contaminated area.

Issued

Oct 15, 1992

Abate by

Mar 1, 1993

Penalty

Initial $2,125 · Current $3,500

Issued

Oct 15, 1992

Abate by

Feb 1, 1993

Issued

Oct 15, 1992

Abate by

Apr 1, 1993

Issued

Oct 15, 1992

Abate by

Feb 1, 1993

Issued

Oct 15, 1992

Abate by

Feb 1, 1993

Penalty

Initial $2,125 · Current $3,500

Issued

Oct 15, 1992

Abate by

Feb 1, 1993

Issued

Oct 15, 1992

Abate by

Feb 1, 1993

Issued

Oct 15, 1992

Abate by

Feb 1, 1993

Penalty

Initial $2,125

Issued

Oct 15, 1992

Abate by

Feb 5, 1993

Penalty

Initial $2,125

Issued

Oct 15, 1992

Abate by

Feb 12, 1993

Penalty

Initial $2,125

Issued

Oct 15, 1992

Abate by

Feb 1, 1993

Penalty

Initial $2,125

Issued

Oct 15, 1992

Abate by

Oct 20, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,125