OSHA Inspection: NATIONAL METAL FINISHING CORP.

Issued

Dec 5, 2008

Abate by

Mar 7, 2009

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $625 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, including
severe burns, to
employees in that employees were exposed to dust explosion, deflagration,
or other fire hazards
because methods were not utilized to ensure proper collection and prevent
ignition of
combustible aluminum dusts during the manufacturing, handling and
processing operations:
a) ON OR ABOUT 08/13/2008 THE TORRIT DUST COLLECTOR SET UP ON BUFFER #15
AND #16 USED TO COLLECT COMBUSTIBLE METAL DUSTS (STEEL AND
ALUMINUM) WAS LOCATED INSIDE THE BUILDING.
b) ON OR ABOUT 08/13/2008 THE POLISHING ROOM DUST COLLECTOR USED TO
COLLECT COMBUSTIBLE ALUMINUM DUSTS WAS EVALUATED FOR PROPER
SAFEGUARDS TO MINIMIZE THE HAZARDS OF DUST EXPLOSION, DEFLAGRATION
OR FIRE AND THE FOLLOWING DIFFICIENCIES WERE NOTED;
i) THE COLLECTOR'S BAGHOUSE AUTOMATIC PULSE CLEANING SYSTEM WAS
NOT OPERATIONAL DUE TO EQUIPMENT DEFECT.
ii) THE COLLECTOR DID NOT HAVE DEFLAGRATION VENTING.
iii) THE COLLECTOR HAD RETURN AIR DUCTWORK LEADING BACK INSIDE THE
BUILDING WHICH COULD TRANSMIT A DEFLAGRATION OR FIRE BACK TO THE
WORK AREA.
iv) THE DUST COLLECTION SYSTEMS HOODS AND DUCTWORK WERE IN
DISREPAIR WITH SUBSTANTIAL AIR LEAKS IN THE DUCTWORK CREATED BY
MISSING INSPECTION COVERS, UNUSED OPENINGS, INCOMPLETE OR POORLY
DESIGNED CAPTURE HOODS AND PHYSICAL DAMAGE.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, A FEASIBLE ABATEMENT TO CORRECT THESE
HAZARDS IS TO FOLLOW THE NFPA 484 AND INSTITUTE THE FOLLOWING WHICH
INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO;
a) RELOCATE THE TORRIT DUST COLLECTOR OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING AND
EQUIP THE COLLECTOR WITH APPROPRIATE DEFLAGRATION,ISOLATION AND
FIRE PROTECTIVE SYSTEMS.
(b)(i) REPAIR THE COLLECTORS DEFECTIVE PULSE CLEANING SYSTEM
(b)(ii) INSTALL PROPERLY DESIGNED DEFLAGRATION VENTING
(b)(iii) PERMANENTLY REMOVE THE RETURN AIR DUCTWORK AND PROPERLY
CLOSE OFF THE OPENINGS FROM THE COLLECTOR AND RETURN TO THE
BUILDING.
(b)(iv) INSPECT, REPAIR THE DAMAGED DUCTWORK AND HOODS AND TEST
THE DUST COLLECTION SYSTEM TO ENSURE PERFORMANCE MEETS DESIGN
CRITERIA.

Issued

Dec 5, 2008

Abate by

Jan 15, 2009

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $625 Reduced

Issued

Dec 5, 2008

Abate by

Jan 15, 2009

Issued

Dec 5, 2008

Abate by

Jan 26, 2009

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $625 Reduced

Issued

Dec 5, 2008

Abate by

Dec 17, 2008

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $625 Reduced

Issued

Dec 5, 2008

Abate by

Jan 7, 2009

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $625 Reduced

Issued

Dec 5, 2008

Abate by

Jan 7, 2009

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $625 Reduced