OSHA Inspection: B/E AEROSPACE, INC.

Issued

Jan 20, 1999

Abate by

Apr 22, 1999

Penalty

Initial $1,875 · Current $1,875

General-duty citation text

Section 5(A)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:
The employer did not furnish to employees 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:
(a)Employees grinding aircraft parts in the Grind Room were exposed to a
fire and
explosion hazard from aluminum dust. Inadequacies in both the design and
operation of
the grinding machinery and dust collection system substantially increased
the likelihood
of such an incident. These deficiencies were contrary to the national
consensus standard,
"Standard for the Processing and Finishing of Aluminum", National Fire
Protection
Association, NFPA 65, 1993, and are as follows:
(1)The dust collection system serving machinery used to grind aluminum
parts was not dedicated to the collection of aluminum dust only, as steel
tools and
stainless steel parts are often ground on the same machinery. Also, the
following
warning was not affixed to each grinding machine in aluminum service,
"Warning-Aluminum Metal Only-Fire or Explosion Can Result With Other
Metals". NFPA 65, 2-1.7;
(2)Flexible ducts are used to connect the grinding machinery hoods to the
collection plenum. Ductwork serving machinery used to grind aluminum parts
must be straight, short and as smooth as possible to prevent the
accumulation of
dust. NFPA 65, 2-2.3 and 2-2.4;
(3)Collected dust was not removed from the dust collector at least once
daily
and mixed with dry sand in a 5:1 ratio (sand to aluminum dust) for
disposal.
NFPA 65, 2-4.4;
(4)The interior of the dust collector ductwork and hoods were not cleaned
on
a regular basis to prevent the accumulation of aluminum dust. NFPA 65,
2-4.7.
A feasible and acceptable method of abatement, among others, is to insure
that
aluminum
grinding machinery and any associated dust collecting equipment is
designed and operated
according to NFPA 65.

Issued

Jan 20, 1999

Abate by

Feb 8, 1999

Penalty

Initial $1,125 · Current $1,125

Issued

Jan 20, 1999

Abate by

Feb 1, 1999