OSHA Inspection: THE PLASTEK GROUP - PENN-ERIE DIVISION

Issued

Aug 22, 2011

Abate by

Nov 18, 2011

Penalty

Initial $2,550 · Current $1,915 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 a dust collection system for combustible metal shavings/dust
that was located inside
a building and was not properly maintained:
(a) Torit System Room/Grinding Room - On or about April 15, 2011 -- The
Donaldson
Torit Dryflo Mist collection system processed a combustible dust with a
pressure ratio
of 2.12 and a KsT of 1.5 BM/S. The Donaldson Torit system  was located
inside the
facility and potentially exposed employees to fire/dust explosion hazards.
The system
was not equipped with an explosion protection system and isolation
devices.
(b) Torit System Room/Grinding Room  - On or about April 15, 2011 -- The
Donaldson
Torit Dryflo Mist collection system did not maintain internal cleanliness
in that dust
material collected and caked in the duct work associated with the system
and in the top
portion of the dust collectors internal housing.  The lack of internal
cleanliness allows
the dust material to dry in the system increasing the potential for a fire
and/or explosion.
(c) Torit System Room - On or about April 15, 2011 -- The Donaldson Torit
Dryflo Mist
collection system did not have an effective maintenance/inspection program
in that the
entire systems components were not inspected on a monthly basis.
ABATEMENT NOTE: Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods to
correct the
conditions include complying with applicable requirements referenced in
the following National
Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards:
NFPA 484 Standard for Combustible Metals
NFPA 91 Standard for Exhaust Systems for Air Conveying of Vapors, Gases,
Mists, and
Noncombustible Particulate Solids.