OSHA Inspection: WILLIAMS METAL FINISHING, INCORPORATED

Issued

Dec 9, 2005

Abate by

Jan 1, 2007

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $350 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 severe burn injuries from a
potential dust explosion hazard that could have resulted from, or been
exacerbated by the (a) failure to locate
dust collectors that collect combustible/explosive dust outside of the
building; (b) failure to install abort
dampers on return air ductwork of dust collectors to protect downstream
processes; (c) failure to install
backdraft dampers on dust collectors to protect upstream processes; (d)
failure to install deflagration vents on
dust collectors; (e) failure to install deflagration vents on Harper
Booths; (f) failure to remove excess dust by
vacuuming prior to utilization of compressed air for blowing down
equipment:
(a)Harper Polishing Department - The Torit HPH 54 Dust Collector which
collects dust that was
determined to be explosive from the Harper Booths 7 through 12 was located
inside the
buiding, on or about October 25, 2005.
(b)Robot Polishing - The Torit HPH 96 Dust Collector which collects dust
determined to be
explosive from the Robot Stations D through J was set up to recirculate
filtered air back into
the building without utilizing any sort of isolation device such as abort
dampers, on or about
October 25, 2005.
(c)Robot Polishing, Hand Polishing,  and Harper Polishing - The Torit HPH
96 Dust Collector
which collects dust determined to be explosive from Robot Stations D
through J, the Torit
HPH 54 Dustcollector which collects dust determined to be explosive from
Robot Stations A
through C, the Torit Dust Collector which collects dust from the Hand
Polishing Stations, the
Torit Cyclone which collects dust determined to be explosive from Harper
Booths 4 through 6,
and the Torit Cyclone which collects dust from the Harper Booths 1 through
3 were not
isolated from upstream operations by the use of back draft dampers or
other
similar devices,
on or about October 25,2005.
(d)Harper Polishing Department - The Torit HPH 54 and the Torit Cyclones
which collect dust
determined to be explosive from the Harper Booths 1 through 12 were not
equipped with
deflagration vents which minimize the forces and pressures developed in
the event of an
explosion, on or about October 25, 2005.
(e)Harper Polishing Department - The Harper Booths which contained
accumulations of
combustible dust on horizontal surface areas sufficient to create a fire
or explosion hazard,
were not equipped with deflagration vents to minimize forces and pressures
developed in the
event of an explosion, on or about October 25, 2005.
(f)Harper Polishing Department - The Harper Booths which contain
accumulations of combustible
dust were not vacuumed to reduce these dust accumulations prior to using
compressed air to
"blowdown" equipment, on or about October 25, 2005.
ABATEMENT NOTE:  Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable
abatement method to
correct these hazards includes following NFPA 654 (Standard for the
Prevention of Fire and Dust
Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible
Particulate Solids)
and/or NFPA 484 (Standard for Combustible Metals, Metal Powders, and Metal
Dusts) including but
not limited to:
Relocate the Torit HPH 54 Dust Collector to outside of the building or
comply with the requirements
of the exceptions listed in Paragraph 3.13.1.1 of NFPA 654.
Cease recirculating filtered air from the Torit HPH 96 Dust Collector back
into the building unless the
provisions of Paragraph 3.1.3 (Isolation of Equipment) of NFPA 654 are met.
Isolate all dust collectors from upstream operations by installing
backdraft dampers or otherwise
meeting the provisions of Paragraph 3.1.3 of NFPA 654.
Provide deflagration venting for all dust collectors that currently are
not equipped with such devices or
otherwise comply with the provisions of Paragraph 3.1.1 of NFPA 654.
Provide deflagration venting for all Harper Booths in accordance with
Chapter 2 of NFPA 654.
Devise cleaning strategies for Harper Booths that minimize the use of
compressed air or otherwise
comply with the requirements of Paragraph 4.2.2 of NFPA 654.
VERIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Dec 9, 2005

Abate by

Jan 11, 2006

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $350 Reduced

Issued

Dec 9, 2005

Abate by

Jan 11, 2006

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $350 Reduced

Issued

Dec 9, 2005

Abate by

Jan 11, 2006

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $350 Reduced

Issued

Dec 9, 2005

Abate by

Sep 1, 2006

Penalty

Initial $700 · Current $350 Reduced