OSHA Inspection: HAMILTON STANDARD, DIVISION OF UNITED TECHNOLOGIES

Issued

Mar 12, 1992

Abate by

Mar 15, 1992

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $5,000

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
the hazard of fire and/or explosions.
HEAT TREAT DEPT:  ON/ABOUT 12/6/91, HOLES WERE PUNCHED IN THE TOPS OF
36 QUART CANS OF FLAMMABLE BR 1000 PRIMER ADHESIVE USING A SCREW
DRIVER.  THESE CANS WERE PUT IN A GRIEVE MODEL HB-1000 CLASS A OVEN TO
HEAT THEM, RESULTING IN A FIRE/AND EXPLOSION THAT INJURED TWO EMPLOYEES.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO
CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS:
1.  USE AN ALTERNATE MEANS OF OPENING CANS THAT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR THE
POSSIBILITY OF A SPARK.
2.  DESIGN, INSTALL AND USE AN OVEN FOR HEATING FLAMMABLES IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE PROVISIONS OF NFPA 86, "STANDARD FOR OVENS AND FURNACES."
IN PARTICULAR, PROVIDE ADEQUATE VENTILATION FOR THE KIND AND AMOUNT
OF FLAMMABLES BEING PROCESSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 5-3 OF
NFPA 86.
3.  PROVIDE PROPER AND ADEQUATE EXPLOSION VENTING FOR THE KIND AND AMOUNT
OF FLAMMABLES BEING PROCESSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2-2 OF
NFPA 86.
(THIS ITEM WAS ABATED DURING THE INSPECTION)