OSHA Inspection: REA CONTRACTING LLC

Issued

Apr 21, 2006

Abate by

May 3, 2006

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $6,300

General-duty citation text

North Carolina General Statute 95-129(l) of the Occupational
Safety and Health Act of North Carolina:  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 from a hot mix asphalt facility that was operating
outside manufacturer's guidelines:
a) establishment - on November 10, 2005, employer was
operating a hot mix asphalt facility where, among other
conditions, the burner breeching plate had holes cut into it;
burner linkages for gas, air, and oil were out of adjustment;
tertiary fan and damper were disabled; baghouse was mud-plugged;
inlet/outlet H20 pressure lines were clogged; exhaust fan limit
switch by-passed; and a high velocity sleeve (meant for oil) was
used with natural gas instead of a low velocity sleeve.
One feasible method to reduce this hazard, among other
methods, is to follow the manufacturer's guidelines which have no
allowance for holes to be cut in the burner breeching plate;
require burner linkages to be adjusted according to site usage;
require the use of a tertiary fan and damper; require the
baghouse to be in good working order (exhausting); inlet/outlet
H20 pressure lines to be checked periodically to make sure they
are clear for safety back-up; set the exhaust fan limit switch so
the baghouse is hot enough to bake out moisture; and use the
sleeve appropriate for the fuel in use (a low velocity sleeve may
be used for both natural gas and oil).al