OSHA Inspection: JARVIS AIRFOIL, INC.

Issued

Sep 17, 1990

Abate by

Oct 22, 1990

Penalty

Initial $10,000 · Current $550 Reduced

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
fire and explosion hazards caused by sparking in the presenceof
titanium:
BADER MACHINE LINE: TITANIUM DUST GENERATED BY BELT SANDING OPERATIONS
WAS NOT COLLECTED BY SUITABLE HOODS OR ENCLOSURES CONNECTED TO AN
APPROPRIATE DUST COLLECTION SYSTEM. PREVAILING CONDITIONS WHICH
EXACERBATED THE RISK OF FIRE AND EXPLOSION AT THE BADER MACHINE LINE
INCLUDE:
1) DUCTWORK WHICH DID NOT MAINTAIN A MINIMUM VELOCITY OF 4500 FT/MIN
TO ENSURE THE TRANSPORT OF BOTH COARSE AND FINE PARTICLES, AND TO
ENSURE RE-ENTRAINMENT IF, FOR ANY REASON, THE PARTICLES SHOULD FALL
OUT BEFORE DELIVERY TO THE COLLECTOR (FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE EVENT OF
POWER FAILURE).
2) EACH DUCT-PRODUCING MACHINE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH ITS OWN DUST
SEPARATING UNIT.
3) THE POWER SUPPLY TO THE BADER MACHINES WAS NOT INTERLOCKED TO THE
VENTILATION SYSTEM.
4) DUST COLLECTION DRUMS WERE NOT EMPTIES ON A DAILY BASIS, AND CLEANING
OF THE DUST COLLECTION SYSTEM COMPONENTS WAS NOT PERFORMED WITH SOFT
BRUSHES.
5) THE SYSTEM WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH MAGNETIC SEPARATORS TO PREVENT
FERROUS PARTICLES FROM ENTERING THE SYSTEM.
6) FLEXIBLE PLASTIC DUCTWORK WAS USED TO EXHAUST THE BADER MACHINE LINE
INTO THE VENTILATION SYSTEM OF THE WHEEL POLISHING LINE FOLLOWING
THE FIRE WHICH OCCURED ON OR ABOUT 4/26/90.
7) SMOKING WAS NOT PROHIBITED IN TITANIUM WORKING AREAS.
AMONG OTHER METHODS ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO
CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS TO INSTALL SUITABLE HOODS OR ENCLOSURES CONNECTED
TO LIQUID PRECIPITATION SEPARATORS USING NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION
ASSOCIATION 91 AND 481 AS A GUIDELINE.

Issued

Sep 17, 1990

Abate by

Sep 20, 1990