OSHA Inspection: VAN STAAL

Issued

Dec 17, 2002

Abate by

Jan 3, 2003

Penalty

Initial $375 · Current $188 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 potential fire and explosion
hazards:
BUFFING DEPARTMENT; THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS  NOTED DURING A 12/02/2002
INSPECTION OF THE BUFFING DEPARTMENT WERE CONTRIBUTING TO POTENTIAL FIRE
AND
EXPLOSION HAZARDS FROM ALUMINUM DUSTS THAT  ARE GENERATED BY BUFFING
OPERATIONS;
a) THE DUST HOODS SERVICING ALUMINUM BUFFING EQUIPMENT WERE NOT PROVIDED
WITH PLACARDS WARNING  EMPLOYEES OF THE HAZARD POSED BY BUFFING METALS
OTHER THAN ALUMINUM , IE  "ALUMINUM METALS ONLY- FIRE OR EXPLOSION CAN
RESULT
WITH OTHER METALS"
b)  THE SYNTHETIC BROOMS AND PLASTIC DUSTPANS THAT WERE PROVIDED FOR
CLEANING
ALUMINUM DUSTS PRESENTED A POTENTIAL IGNITION SOURCE DUE TO PLASTICS
TENDENCY TO ACCUMULATE AND DISCHARGE STRONG STATIC CHARGES.  AMONG OTHER
METHODS, THIS HAZARD CAN BE ELIMINATED BY USE OF NATURAL BRISTLE PUSH
BROOMS
AND WHISK BROOMS WITH NON SPARKING, CONDUCTIVE DUSTPANS OR USE OF VACUUM
EQUIPMENT APPROVED FOR COLLECTION OF EXPLOSIVE/COMBUSTIBLE DUSTS.
c) AN EMPLOYEE TRAINING PROGRAM HAD NOT BEEN DEVELOPED TO INFORM EMPLOYEES
OF THE FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARDS POSED BY ALUMINUM DUSTS AND THE SPECIFIC
OPERATING PROCEDURES APPLICABLE TO THE WORK ENVIRONMENT TO CONTROL OR
ELIMINATE FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARDS, SUCH AS BUT NOT LIMITED TO;
ELIMINATION
OF IGNITION SOURCES, PROPER HOUSEKEEPING PRACTICES /METHODS, PROHIBITED
ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SMOKING, USE OF COMPRESSED AIR FOR CLEANING, USE OF
METALS
OTHER THAN ALUMINUM AND PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED IN THE EVENT OF  FIRE OR
OTHER EMERGENCY.

Issued

Dec 17, 2002

Abate by

Jan 19, 2003

Penalty

Initial $375 · Current $188 Reduced

Issued

Dec 17, 2002

Abate by

Jan 3, 2003

Penalty

Initial $375 · Current $188 Reduced

Issued

Dec 17, 2002

Abate by

Jan 19, 2003

Penalty

Initial $375 · Current $188 Reduced

Issued

Dec 17, 2002

Abate by

Jan 19, 2003

Penalty

Initial $375 · Current $188 Reduced

Issued

Dec 17, 2002

Abate by

Jan 19, 2003

Issued

Dec 17, 2002

Abate by

Jan 19, 2003

Issued

Dec 17, 2002

Abate by

Jan 19, 2003

Issued

Dec 17, 2002

Abate by

Jan 19, 2003

Issued

Dec 11, 2002

Abate by

Dec 28, 2002

Penalty

Initial $375 · Current $188 Reduced