OSHA Inspection: ECM PLASTICS, INC.

Issued

Jan 14, 2010

Abate by

Aug 18, 2010

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,250 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 in that
employees were exposed
to the hazard of potential fire and explosion because methods were not
utilized to ensure proper
collection and prevent ignition of combustible dusts during
manufacturing,handling and
processing operations:
a) Blending Department ; During material loading and unloading operations
on the  10K, 8K,
4K and 2K dual cone conical blenders , continuous local exhaust
ventilation was not  ensured
at blender openings to minimize the escape of explosive and combustible
dusts to the atmosphere
and prevent contact with an ignition source.
Abatement note: potential ignition sources include static sparks and
ordinary electrical equipment
in the general vicinity of the blender platforms and unloading areas which
can
be minimized by
provision of a properly designed, constructed and installed local exhaust
ventilation system.
b) Blending department; where all components were not conductive, measures
were not taken
to eliminate or reduce the electrostatic ignition potential posed by the
polyethylene bags used to
contain the ingredients from weighing operations which are later emptied
into the blender
loading openings. Similarly, measures were not taken to eliminate
electrostatic ignition potential
on the  polyethylene liners that are used in bulk containers in which
blended resins are loaded
from the blender.
Abatement note: Static ignition potential may be minimized by selection of
containers or liners
that do not accumulate strong static charges and by implementing proper
static electricity
controls such as those recommended by the National Electric Code (NEC) and
National Fire
Protection Agency (NFPA)guidelines.
c) Blending Department: 10K&8K Blender Platform; The Hammond Duskolector
Model 855B
Dust Collector used for the collection of dusts generated during loading
and unloading operations
on the 8K and 10K dual cone blenders is not designed or constructed with
the necessary
safeguards for collection of combustible particulate solids.
Abatement note: potential hazards posed by the use of the Duskolector
collector include but are
not limited to fire and explosion injuries to employees due to the
installation of the collector in
an area regularly frequented by employees, lack of deflagration venting,
and lack of explosion
suppression devices.
d) Blending department: The AAF ARRESTALL dust collector used for the
collection of dusts
generated during loading and unloading operations from the 2K and 4 K dual
cone Blenders is
not designed or constructed with the necessary safeguards for the
collection of combustible
particulate solids.
e) Color Room: The AAF ARRESTALL dust collector used for the collection of
dusts generated
during manual weighing operations involving combustible particulate solids
used in plastic resinproduction operations is not designed or constructed
with the necessary safeguards for the
collection of combustible particulate solids.
Abatement note: potential hazards posed by the use of the AAF ARRESTALL
dust collectors
include but are not limited to fire and explosion injuries to employees
due to installation of the
collector in an area frequented by employees, lack of deflagration
venting, and lack of explosion
suppression devices.
Among  other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct these hazards
is to comply with the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 654  Standard
for the Prevention
of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing and
Handling of Combustible
Particulate Solids, but not limited to ensuring use of dust collection
equipment that is located
outside and equipped with appropriate deflagration venting and other
safeguards to protect
employees in the event of an explosion.

Issued

Jan 14, 2010

Abate by

Feb 16, 2010

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,250 Reduced

Issued

Jan 14, 2010

Abate by

Apr 1, 2010

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,250 Reduced

Issued

Jan 14, 2010

Abate by

Feb 16, 2010

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $500 Reduced

Issued

Jan 14, 2010

Abate by

Mar 4, 2010

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,250 Reduced

Issued

Jan 14, 2010

Abate by

Feb 16, 2010

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,250 Reduced