OSHA Inspection: CAROLINA LIQUID BLASTING, INC.

Issued

Apr 11, 2001

Abate by

May 14, 2001

Penalty

Initial $1,400 · Current $700 Reduced

General-duty citation text

North Carolina General Statute 95-129(1) of the Occupational Safety
and Health Act of North Carolina:  The employer did not furnish
each of his employees conditions of employment and a place of
employment free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely
to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that
employees were exposed to a struck-by hazard from
waterjetting/hydroblasting equipment, or from water under high
pressure (10,000 p.s.i.):
a)No. 1 and No. 2 Belt Filter Building, No. 2 Belt Filter -
Nozzle Operators routinely remove calcium sulfate scale
out of Vacuum Box, using 50 ft. Flex Lance, operating
under 10,000 p.s.i. water pressure, without distance
indicator marking, damaged outer jacket exposing inner
wiring, and without control of the Foot Control
Valve/Dump System, which was 10-12 feet away from Nozzle
Operator and operated by another employee; nozzle
operators were not properly trained on the operation and
use of the nozzle; nozzle operators were not provided
operating procedures for the nozzle.
One feasible and acceptable method of abatement, among others, to
correct this hazard is for employer to follow the procedures in
National Liquid Blasting Corporation, Operation and Maintenance
Manual, Model 1012D, and procedures in Recommended Practices For
The Use Of Manually Operated High Pressure Waterjetting Equipment.
The employer can develop written procedures for this job task at
this worksite, which included special precautions to be followed
when performing waterjetting or hydroblasting (ref. Recommended
Practices For The Use of Manually Operated High Pressure
Waterjetting Equipment, WaterJet Technology Association, Goals,
2.3, page 5).
The employer can ensure that the Nozzle Operator has direct control
of the foot pedal/dump system, which controls the high pressure
water stream (10,000 p.s.i.), in the event that Nozzle Operator
loses control of flex lance (ref. Operation and Maintenance Manual,
NLB Corp., NLB Model 1012D, Equipment Definitions and Standards,
Dump System, 4.7, page 2-10; Foot Control Valve, 4.14, page 2-11;
Operational Procedures, Moleing or Flex Lancing, 8.6, Control,
8.6.1, page 2-17; Operation of the FC250 Foot Control Valve, 1st
para., page 3-13; Recommended Practices For The Use of Manually
Operated High Pressure Waterjetting Equipment, WaterJet Technology
Association, Preoperating Procedures, Dump Valve, 8.5, page 16);
Operational Procedures, Moleing or Flex Lancing, Control, 10.9.1,
page 24.
The employer can clearly mark the lance or hose with tape or other
means, approx. 16-24 inches from the nozzle, which enables the
operator to judge how far the nozzle is in the workpiece before
pressure is applied, conversely, so that pressure is released
before lance or hose is completely withdrawn from the workpiece(ref.
Operation and Maintenance Manual, NLB Corp., NLB Model 1012D,
The Uses of Lances and Nozzles, 9.3, page 2-19; Operation of the
FC250 Foot Control Valve, E., page 3-15; Recommended Practices For
The Use Of Manually Operated High Pressure Waterjetting Equipment,
WaterJet Technology Association, Moleing or Flex Lancing, 10.9, End
Identification, 10.9.6, page 24).
The employer can train employees to identify, and take out of
service, worn and unsafe hoses, such as external damage, i.e.,
exposed and broken wires (ref. Operation and Maintenance Manual,
NLB Corp., Model NLB 1012D, Care and Maintenance of Equipment, Hose
Assemblies, 5.3(B), page 2-12; Pre-Operating Procedures, Hose,
7.5.3, page 2-14; Recommended Practices For The Use Of Manually
Operated High Pressure Waterjetting Equipment, WaterJet Technology
Association, Operational and Training Requirements, Hose, 7.8, page
14).