OSHA Inspection: RENSSELAER IRON AND STEEL INC

Issued

Jan 3, 2000

Abate by

Feb 5, 2000

Penalty

Initial $525 · Current $368 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:
(a)Scrap Yard - Employees were exposed to explosions resulting in loud
noises,
projecting of scrap and possible fire due to the feeding of Liquid
Petroleum Gas
(LP-Gas) cylinders into the Sunbelt Technology Hammermill Shredder machine
without correctly preparing the cylinders for destruction prior to placing
them into
the machine.  Other explosions have also occurred for unknown reasons when
LP-Gas cylinders were not in the shredder.
One feasible and acceptable method of abatement to correct this hazard is
to refuse compressed
gas cylinders that have not been prepared for destruction according to the
National Propane Gas
Association (NPGA) Pamphlet #132-79, paragraph 2.1(g) which states:  "No
cylinder should be
sold nor given to a scrap dealer or others for disposal until the above
"Disposal Procedures"
have been fully completed and checked by a competent employee of the gas
supplier.  Such
"Disposal Procedures" must not be left to be done by a junk yard or
others."  Additionally,
Compressed Gas Association (CGA) Pamphlet C-2 states:  "Unserviceable
cylinders which
contain gases should preferably be de-energized and prepared for
destruction by those most
familiar with these cylinders and the commodities contained in them.
These individuals are
usually the manufacturers or distributors of compressed gasses.
If the destruction of compressed gas cylinders that have not been prepared
is necessary, follow
the disposal procedures outlined in NPGA #132-79, Section II, paragraph
2.1 and CGA C-2,
paragraphs 6.6 and 7.1 which require venting of the LP-G cylinders and
purging of the cylinders
with an inert gas, steam or water prior to destruction.
Regarding the noise and projectiles caused by explosions in the shredder
due
to unknown
reasons, one feasible and acceptable means of abatement to correct this
hazard is to enclose the
opening to the shredder and as much of the feed shoot as possible with a
sound absorbing
material such as 1" thick wood with an outside covering of aluminum or
other metal.  This
enclosure will deflect any projectiles down inside the enclosure instead
of out into the air.  The
wood will also act as a sound absorbing material.
ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Jan 3, 2000

Abate by

Feb 5, 2000

Penalty

Initial $225 · Current $158 Reduced

Issued

Jan 3, 2000

Abate by

Feb 5, 2000

Penalty

Initial $225 · Current $158 Reduced

Issued

Jan 3, 2000

Abate by

Feb 5, 2000

Penalty

Initial $375 · Current $262 Reduced

Issued

Jan 3, 2000

Abate by

Feb 5, 2000

Penalty

Initial $225 · Current $158 Reduced

Issued

Jan 3, 2000

Abate by

Feb 5, 2000

Issued

Jan 3, 2000

Abate by

Feb 5, 2000

Issued

Jan 3, 2000

Abate by

Feb 5, 2000

Issued

Jan 3, 2000

Abate by

Feb 5, 2000

Penalty

Initial $375 · Current $262 Reduced

Issued

Jan 3, 2000

Abate by

Feb 5, 2000

Penalty

Initial $375 · Current $262 Reduced

Issued

Jan 3, 2000

Abate by

Feb 5, 2000

Penalty

Initial $375 · Current $262 Reduced

Issued

Jan 3, 2000

Abate by

Feb 5, 2000

Issued

Jan 3, 2000

Abate by

Feb 5, 2000