OSHA Inspection: ACTION COUPLING AND EQUIPMENT, INC.

Issued

Jan 27, 1998

Abate by

Jun 9, 1998

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $2,500

Hazardous substances A101M100

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:
a.Dust collectors and the dust collection system used in the belting area
were not designed
to limit the fire and/or explosion hazard associated with the generation
of aluminum alloy
dust.
b.The dust collectors used for the buffing operation were located inside
the building at the
manufacturing site.
Employees are continually exposed to a fire and or explosion hazard in the
ductwork of the dust
collection system associated with the belting of the aluminum alloy
firehose couplings (which
also contain magnesium).  Two employees were injured in a November 24,
1997
explosion and
fire.
Feasible and useful methods of abatement for these items include:
1.Relocating dust collectors for use in the aluminum alloy dust collection
systems
related to the "belting" of firehose couplings to outside the production
building,
2.Designing duct systems to prevent flow through the ductwork into the
building
in the event of a fire or explosion in the dust collector.
3.Installing dust collectors with appropriate explosion venting or fitting
the existing
dust collectors with explosion venting,
4.Electrically grounding the duct system and the dust collectors,
5.Eliminate the use of filters and fabric (cloth materials) as part of the
dust
collection system,
6.Ensure that ductwork is fabricated of substantial metal construction
with a smooth
interior and that all lap joints shall point in the direction of air flow,
and
7.Minimize the amount of bends in the ductwork and maintain the duct
length as
short as possible to limit dry dust "build-up" in the duct system.
Abatement certification and documentation are required.tion

Issued

Jan 27, 1998

Abate by

Jun 9, 1998

Hazardous substances A101M100

Issued

Jan 27, 1998

Abate by

Jun 9, 1998

Penalty

Initial $1,250

Issued

Jan 27, 1998

Abate by

Jan 30, 1998

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $750 Reduced

Hazardous substances A101M100

Issued

Jan 27, 1998

Abate by

Mar 16, 1998

Penalty

Initial $875 · Current $875

Hazardous substances A101M100

Issued

Jan 27, 1998

Abate by

Feb 23, 1998

Penalty

Initial $875 · Current $875

Hazardous substances A101M100

Issued

Jan 27, 1998

Abate by

Mar 16, 1998