OSHA Inspection: LINCOLN ELECTRIC CO.

Issued

May 20, 1998

Abate by

May 24, 1998

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $5,000

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 hazards that resulted in severe burns from the hazard of
dumping of magnesium
and aluminum powder mixture into a hopper:
On or about March 4, 1998, a worker in the cord/wire department, the
weighline section, area
230, where chemical compounds are mixed, was topping off the hopper that
contains a powder
composed of magnesium and aluminum that is used in the manufacturing of
welding apparatus.
A flash fire occurred severely burning the worker. The process used to add
this powder to the
hopper is to use a hoist with a hook holding the barrel due to the powder
being held in a plastic
bag in the barrel.  On other materials without this plastic bag a 'drum
dumper' is used that has
local exhaust attached.  The plastic bag holding the magnesium-aluminum
powder would get
caught up in the drum dumper and clog the hole, preventing the material
from entering the
hopper.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement method(s) to
correct this hazard is to
install engineering controls such as those stipulated in National Fire
Protection Association
(NFPA) 480-1993, Standard for the Storage, Handling, and Processing of
Magnesium Solids and
Powders, and NFPA 65-1993, Standard for the Processing and Finishing of
Aluminum.
Essential engineering controls to control these hazards
1)  In powder handling or manufacturing buildings and in the operation of
dust-conveying
systems, every precaution shall be taken to avoid the production of sparks
from static electricity,
electrical faults, friction, or impact. Also, transfer of powders in-plant
shall be done in suitable
conductive containers.
-Ensure that the powder is contained only in metal containers and not in
plastic
bags
since plastic is well known for its capability to produce static
electricity.
2)  All machinery shall be bonded and grounded to minimize accumulation of
static electric
charge.
-In this case, no grounding and bonding was observed used in the dumping
of the powder
into the hoppers.

Issued

May 20, 1998

Abate by

May 24, 1998

Issued

May 20, 1998

Abate by

May 24, 1998