OSHA Inspection: ARKANSAS ALUMINUM ALLOYS, INC.

Issued

Nov 4, 2004

Abate by

Dec 9, 2004

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $3,500

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 water/metal explosions resulting from the introduction of damp
or wet charge into
the molten metal melt.
On or about May 25, 2004, an operator dumped wet or damp scrap (crushed
aluminum
wheels) into the melt at the open hearth of Furnace #2, resulting in a
Force 2 explosion
which ejected several hundred pounds of molten aluminum from the open
hearth.
Aluminum splash was observed on vertical surfaces at a distance of
approximately 31 feet
from the open hearth.
Among other means, acceptable and feasible means of abatement include:
1.Certify that all furnace operators have been adequately and correctly
trained
in
the identification of steam (generated by the introduction of damp or wet
charge) as
compared to smoke (generated by contaminants).
2.Disengage the puddling arm during the dump to reduce the likelihood of
the
charge being carried beneath the surface of the melt by the arm's action.
3.Inspect each load of scrap for moisture prior to the loader operator
dumping it
into the hopper.
4.Develop and implement an inspection and repair protocol that assesses the
integrity of the overhead structures in the outside storage bin area.
5.Build a weather-proof storage area for processed scrap storage.
The employer is not limited to any of the recommended abatement methods.