OSHA Inspection: ROSSBOROUGH MANUFACTURING CO.

Issued

Jun 8, 1990

Abate by

Jun 26, 1990

Penalty

Initial $10,000 · Current $10,000

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 likley to cause death
or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to:
a) the increased likeihood of flash fires and/or explosions from
mechanical friction sparks were explosive magnesium powder is
handled on the carbide line. Conditions noted at the time of this
inspection which contributed to this hazard included:
1) Two drum dumpers made steel-to-steel abrasion contact with the steel
doors of two magnesium batch hoppers.
2) A pneumatic trolley hoist steel bolt made abrasive contact with the
steel monorail, located eight feet above the floor.
3) Empty steel drums were slid by employees across a steel floor.
4) Unsecured steel drum lids can fall to the steel floor.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is to:
1) Use conductive rubber-wear plates on the magnesium batch hopper
doors.
2) Replace the pneumatic trolley hoist steel bolt with a bronze one to
eliminate abrasion.
3) Install a secure steel lid rack for storage of drum lids.
4) Install electrically conductive flooring or coating on concrete and
steel floors where magnesium powders are handled which will provide
a path of moderate electrical conductivity between all persons and
portable equipment making contact with it.
a) Check resistance valves of this floor on a monthly basis. Maximum
resistance should be less than 1,000,000 ohms as measured between two
electrodes placed three feet apart at any two points on the floor.
Minimum resistance should be greater than 25,000 ohms as measured
between a ground connection and a electrode placed at any location on
the floor.
b) the increased likelihood of flash fires and/or explosions from static
sparking where explosive magnesium powder is handled on the carbide
line. Conditions noted at the time of the inspection  which contributed
to this hazard included:
1) A portable magnesium bulk hopper, suspended from a forklift truck,
was not grounded or bonded to the steel drum being filled.
2) The steel reinforced flex hose used to fill drums was non-
electrically conductive.
3) Two pneumatic vacuum cleaners, used to clean up spilled magnesium
powder, were not grounded.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this
hazard is to:
1) Ground and bond the batch hopper to minimize accumulation of static
charge.
2) Assure that all lift trucks have non-sparking, static conductive
tires and wheels, which have been bonded through suitable conductive
lubricants or around the lubricating film bearing.
3) When transferring magnesium powder from the hopper to the drums,
positively ground the drum by a connecting cable to a suitable ground
connection.
4) Assure that the flex hose used to fill drums is electrically
conductive, as well as bonded and grounded.
5) Ground and bond the portable vacuum cleaners to a minimize
accumulation of static electric charge.
6) Install electrically conductive flooring or coating on concrete and
steel floors where magnesium powder are handled, which will provide
a path of moderate electrical conductivity between all persons and
portable equipment making contact with it .
a) Check esistance valves of this floor on a monthly basis. Maximum
resitance should be less than 1,000,000 ohms as measured between two
electrodes placed three feet apart at any two points on the floor.
Minimum resistance should be greater than 25,000 ohms as measured
between a ground connection and an electrode placed at any location
on the floor.

Issued

Jun 7, 1990

Abate by

Jun 19, 1990

Penalty

Initial $10,000 · Current $10,000

Issued

Jun 7, 1990

Abate by

Jul 13, 1990

Penalty

Initial $10,000 · Current $10,000