OSHA Inspection: LITE METALS CO.

Issued

Mar 10, 2008

Abate by

Aug 29, 2008

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,500 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 dust explosion, deflagration,
or other fire hazards:
Lite Metals Company - 700 North Walnut Street, Ravenna, OH:  Metal dust
containing magnesium collected
in the Finishing Department on November 13, 2007, was a Class St1
explosive dust, indicating the potential
for explosion if ignited.  The following conditions found at the facility
increase the potential for an explosion
and/or severity of an explosion:
a.)  Methods used to contain and dispose of Class St1 explosive dust did
not address items such as, but not
limited to:
The Bridgeport drill in the Pattern Shop, used for boring magnesium
castings, did not have a catch pan for
waste.
The rotoclone was not cleaned of sludge when the dust collector is
inoperative for a period of 24-hours or
more.
The Pangborn shop blast dust collection system was inside the facility.
The Pangborn shop blast dust collection system was of the dry-type.
The wet-type dust collector for the rotofile booths was not dedicated to
the collection of magnesium and
magnesium alloys only.
b.)  Material storage and practices used to minimize potential severity of
an explosion did not address items
such as, but not limited to:
The tools used to make repairs and/or adjustments to grinder used for
machining magnesium castings were not
of the nonsparking type.
Combustible wooden pallets were stored within 12-feet of magnesium ingots.
Racks and bins of magnesium solids were placed within 46-inches of each
other.
Wet magnesium fines were stored inside the facility.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct
this hazard is to conduct a
process hazard analysis by an individual knowledgeable about explosive
metal dusts and comply with
applicable standards issued by the National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) 484 Standard for Combustible
Metals, Chapter 7, "Magnesium" and Chapter 12 " Requirements for
Combustible Metals Not Covered in
Chapter 4 through 11," and to follow-up on any provided recommendations.

Issued

Mar 10, 2008

Abate by

Mar 13, 2008

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · Current $1,050 Reduced

Issued

Mar 10, 2008

Abate by

Jun 30, 2008

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $750 Reduced

Issued

Mar 10, 2008

Abate by

Apr 4, 2008

Issued

Mar 10, 2008

Abate by

May 12, 2008

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Issued

Mar 10, 2008

Abate by

Mar 18, 2008

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $600 Reduced

Issued

Mar 10, 2008

Abate by

Mar 18, 2008

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · Current $1,050 Reduced

Issued

Mar 10, 2008

Abate by

Mar 18, 2008

Issued

Mar 10, 2008

Abate by

Mar 28, 2008

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $450 Reduced

Issued

Mar 10, 2008

Abate by

Mar 18, 2008

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $600 Reduced

Issued

Mar 10, 2008

Abate by

Mar 18, 2008

Issued

Mar 10, 2008

Abate by

Mar 13, 2008

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Issued

Mar 10, 2008

Abate by

Mar 13, 2008

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $750 Reduced

Issued

Mar 10, 2008

Abate by

Apr 12, 2008

Penalty

Initial $500

Issued

Mar 10, 2008

Abate by

Apr 12, 2008

Issued

Mar 10, 2008

Abate by

Apr 12, 2008

Issued

Mar 10, 2008

Abate by

Mar 28, 2008

Issued

Mar 10, 2008

Abate by

Mar 18, 2008

Issued

Mar 10, 2008

Abate by

Mar 13, 2008

Issued

Mar 10, 2008

Abate by

Mar 13, 2008

Issued

Mar 10, 2008

Abate by

Mar 18, 2008

Issued

Mar 10, 2008

Abate by

Mar 13, 2008