OSHA Inspection: AMETEK-WESTCHESTER PLASTICS DIVISION

Issued

Aug 10, 1992

Abate by

Aug 27, 1992

Penalty

Initial $2,125 · Current $2,125

Issued

Aug 10, 1992

Abate by

Jan 29, 1993

Penalty

Initial $1,700 · Current $1,700

Issued

Aug 10, 1992

Abate by

Aug 13, 1992

Penalty

Current $4,250

Issued

Aug 7, 1992

Abate by

Jan 29, 1993

Penalty

Initial $4,250 · Current $4,250

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 flash fires and/or explosives from the ignition
of finely divided particles of powdered materials by static
electrical or mechanical sparks while mixing and dispensing such
materials.  Conditions which contributed to the hazard include:
a) An adjustable steel exhaust hood at the blender loading hatch
was not grounded or banded to the blender being loaded.
b) A steel-rimmed fiber drum had been mannually dumped into the
blender while not grounded or bonded to the blender.
c) There was no static bleed off screen in the blender mixing
chamber.
d) Employees were not wearing electrically conductive shoes or
leg stats.
e) Steps were not taken to prevent mechanical sparks from contact
between the blender openings and the steel rims of fiber drum.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to
correct this hazard is to:
a) Ground and bond the exhaust hood to the blender opening rim
to minimize accumulation of static charge.
b) Ground and bond the drum rim to the blender opening rim.
c) Install a static electrical charge bleed off screen in the
blender mixing chamber.
d) Assure employees wear electrically conductive shoes or leg
stats.
e) Line the blender opening flange with a rubber conductive
material to eliminate the possiblity of a mechanical friction
spark.
f) Fill the blender with an inert gas while dumping fine powder.
g) Use a non-ferrous electrically conductive fill spout to
deposit fine powders at the bottom of the blender and attach
a ground or bond strap to the hopper/spout to the blender opening
rim.

Issued

Aug 7, 1992

Abate by

Sep 23, 1992

Issued

Aug 7, 1992

Abate by

Sep 23, 1992