OSHA Inspection: TEXTRON LYCOMING, INC.

Issued

Oct 25, 1993

Abate by

Nov 4, 1993

Penalty

Initial $4,250 · Current $2,125 Reduced

Hazardous substances T103

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:
TEXTRON LYCOMING, STRATFORD, IMPELLER ROOM 36D, COLUMN C-37:
THE EMPLOYER DID NOT ESTABLISH A PROGRAM CONSISTING OF MAINTENANCE
PROCEDURES, EMPLOYEE TRAINING, AND PERIODIC INSPECTION TO ENSURE THAT
BEFORE AN EMPLOYEE PERFORMED MAINTENANCE WORK ON THE TITANIUM MILLING
MACHINE, PROPER PRECAUTIONS WERE TAKEN TO PREVENT UNEXPECTED IGNITION OF
TITANIUM TURNINGS, FINES, OR DUST.
EMPLOYEES WHO WERE REQUIRED TO PERFORM MAINTENANCE WORK ON THESE MACHINES
WERE NOT GIVEN INFORMATION CONCERNING THE HAZARDS OF THE COMBUSTIBILITY OF
TITANIUM AND IGNITION SOURCES HE OR SHE MAY ENCOUNTER DURING SUCH
ACTIVITY.
***NOTE**
EMPLOYEES WERE EXPOSED TO A TITANIUM TURNINGS METAL FIRE ON SEPTEMBER
16,1993 CAUSED BY DRILLING OPERATIONS AT THE BASE OF THE MILLING
MACHINE WHICH IGNITED TITANIUM TURNINGS WITHIN THE MACHINE.
THE FIRE WAS INITIATED IN MACHINE # 478-10, SERIAL #41776 AND
INCORPORATED MACHINE 478-04, SERIAL NUMBER 41797.
A FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE METHOD OF ABATEMENT IS:
PRIOR TO PERFORMING ANY WORK WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GENERATE HEAT
DUE TO FRICTION, SPARKS, OR OTHER PHENOMENA WHICH COULD RESULT IN
IGNITION OF TITANIUM TURNINGS AND OTHER FINES, ON MILLING MACHINES,
A WORK PROCEDURE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED TO ENSURE THAT:
1) MACHINES ARE DE-ENERGIZED,
2) TURNINGS ARE REMOVED,
3) MACHINES ARE THOROUGHLY CLEANED WITH A WATER FLUSH TO EVACUATE RESIDUAL
TURNINGS, FINES AND OTHER DEBRIS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE NFPA,
4) EMPLOYEES ARE APPRISED OF THE HAZARDS OF THE COMBUSTIBILITY OF
TITANIUM,
PROTECTIVE AND SAFETY MEASURES THE EMPLOYEES CAN USE, AND THE APPROPRIATE
ACTIONS IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY,
5) NOTIFY THE FIRE BRIGADE THAT SUCH OPERATIONS WILL BE PERFORMED
TO AFFECT A PREPARED RESPONSE,
ADDITIONALLY, THE NFPA 481 CONTAINS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WORK WITH
TITANIUM.