OSHA Inspection: G.G. SCHMITT & SONS, INCORPORATED

Issued

Aug 5, 2011

Abate by

Nov 14, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,020 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 fire and explosion hazards from combustible metal dusts:
(a)Polishing Room - The Polishing Room had a Hammond DusKolector, model DK-
8, serial number 16449, dry-type dust collector, which collected
combustible
aluminum dust generated by the polishing of aluminum tubing on equipment,
such
as the Hammond sander, model 3-ROL-B, serial number 10736, equipped with
a sanding belt on the left side and a polishing wheel on the right side.
This
aluminum dust collection system had the following deficiencies, on or
about May
3, 2011:  (1) The employer had the Hammond DusKolector, model DK-8, serial
number 16449, dry-type dust collector located inside the building.  (2)
This dust
collector did not have deflagration venting.  (3) This dust collector did
not have
any barriers or other means of protection for personnel from flash fire or
shrapnel
in the event of explosion.  (4) Ribbed, flexible, non-metallic ductwork
connected
the Hammond sander, model 3-ROL-B, serial number 10736, which generated
combustible aluminum dust, to the Hammond DusKolector, model DK-8, serial
number 16449, dry-type dust collector.  This ductwork would allow the
combustible aluminum dust to accumulate on interior surfaces, and the non-
metallic material of which the ductwork consisted would allow for the
accumulation of static charges.  (5) This dust collector did not get
emptied at least
once per day.  (6) When employees emptied the combustible aluminum dust
from
the dust collector, they did not mix the combustible aluminum dust with an
inert
material (five parts inert material to one part aluminum dust), but rather
just
disposed of the combustible aluminum dust in a dumpster, where the dust
commingled with various other wastes.  (7) This dry-type dust collector
recycled
air back into the Polishing Room.
(b)Polishing Room - The facility had a dry-type dust collection system,
which
collected combustible stainless steel dust generated by the polishing and
buffing
of stainless steel tubing.  This dust collection system, located outside
of the
building, had the following deficiencies, on or about May 3, 2011:  (1)
This dust
collection system did not have sufficient suction nor capture velocity as
evidenced
by the excessive accumulations of combustible metal dust throughout the
Polishing Room.  (2) The dust collector did not have deflagration venting.
(3)
This dust collector did not have any barriers or other means of protection
for
personnel from flash fire or shrapnel in the event of explosion.  (4)
Dust-laden
air flowed through the blower (fan) after leaving the cyclone and going to
the
baghouses.  (5) Ribbed, flexible, non-metallic ductwork connected the
buffing and
polishing equipment, which generated combustible stainless steel dust, to
the main
ductwork of the system.  The ribbed, flexible, non-metallic ductwork would
allow
the combustible stainless steel dust to accumulate on interior surfaces,
and the
non-metallic material of which the duct consisted would allow for the
accumulation of static charges.  (6) This dust collector did not get
emptied at least
once per day.  (7) This dry-type dust collection system recycled air back
into thebuilding.
(c)Polishing Room ! Buffing and polishing of aluminum tubing and stainless
steel
tubing generated combustible metal dusts, and the room had an automatic
sprinkler system, on or about May 3, 2011.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this
hazard includes following National Fire Protection Association NFPA 484,
Standard for
Combustible Metals, 2009 Edition, including, but not limited to:
*Locate dry-type dust collectors, used to collect combustible aluminum
dust,
outside of buildings (NFPA 484 Chapter 6, Section 6.3.2.5).
*Provide deflagration vents on dry collectors, used to collect combustible
aluminum dust (NFPA 484, Chapter 6, Section 6.3.5.6).
*Provide dry-type dust collectors, used to collect combustible aluminum
dust, with
barriers or other means for protection of personnel (NFPA 484, Chapter 6,
Section 6.3.2.5.2).
*Construct ducts on dust collection systems, used to collect combustible
aluminum
dust, only of conductive material fabricated and assembled with smooth
interior
surfaces and with internal lap joints facing the direction of airflow
(NFPA 484,
Chapter 6, Section 6.3.3.5.1), and also bond and ground duct systems, dust
collectors, and dust-producing machinery to minimize accumulation of static
electric charge (NFPA 484, Chapter 6, Section 6.3.3.6).
*Remove combustible aluminum dust from dry collectors at least once each
day
and at more frequent intervals if conditions warrant (NFPA 484, Chapter 6,
Section 6.3.5.5), and mix the combustible aluminum dust waste with an inert
material in a volume ratio of five parts inert material to one part metal
dust
(NFPA 484, Chapter 6, Section 6.3.5.5.3).
*Do not recycle air from dry-dust collectors, used to collect combustible
aluminum
dust, into buildings (NFPA 484, Chapter 6, Section 6.3.6).
*Provide each machine that produces combustible stainless steel dust with
hoods,
capture devices, or enclosures connected to a dust collection system that
has
sufficient suction and capture velocity to collect and transport all the
dust
produced (NFPA 484, Chapter 12, Section 12.2.1.1).
*Provide deflagration vents on dry collectors, used to collect combustible
stainless
steel dust (NFPA 484, Chapter 12, Section 12.2.10.7).
*Provide dry-type dust collectors, used to collect combustible stainless
steel dust,
with barriers or other means for protection of personnel (NFPA 484,
Chapter
12,Section 12.2.1.5).
*Locate the blower for drawing the dust-laden air into the stainless steel
dust
collector on the clean-air side of the collector (NFPA 484, Chapter 12,
Section
12.2.10.12).
*Construct ducts on dust collection systems, used to collect combustible
stainless
steel dust, only of conductive material fabricated and assembled with
smooth
interior surfaces and with internal lap joints facing the direction of
airflow (NFPA
484, Chapter 12, Section 12.2.5.6), and also bond and ground duct systems,
dust
collectors, and dust-producing machinery to minimize accumulation of static
electric charge (NFPA 484, Chapter 12, Section 12.2.5.10).
*Remove combustible stainless steel dust from dry collectors at least once
each day
and at more frequent intervals if conditions warrant (NFPA 484, Chapter 12,
Section 12.2.10.6).
*Do not recycle air from dry-dust collectors, used to collect combustible
stainless
steel dust, into buildings (NFPA 484, Chapter 12, Section 12.2.11).
*Do not install automatic sprinkler systems in area where combustible
metals are
produced or handled (NFPA 484, Chapter 13, Section 13.3.1.1).
Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date. The
certification
shall include a statement that abatement is complete, date and method of
abatement, and
states employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Aug 5, 2011

Abate by

Oct 14, 2011

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,820 Reduced

Issued

Aug 5, 2011

Abate by

Oct 14, 2011

Issued

Aug 5, 2011

Abate by

Oct 14, 2011

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,820 Reduced

Issued

Aug 5, 2011

Abate by

Oct 14, 2011

Issued

Aug 5, 2011

Abate by

Oct 14, 2011

Issued

Aug 5, 2011

Abate by

Oct 14, 2011

Issued

Aug 5, 2011

Abate by

Sep 7, 2011

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,820 Reduced

Issued

Aug 5, 2011

Abate by

Sep 7, 2011

Issued

Aug 5, 2011

Abate by

Sep 7, 2011

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,115 Reduced

Issued

Aug 5, 2011

Abate by

Oct 14, 2011

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,820 Reduced

Issued

Aug 5, 2011

Abate by

Oct 14, 2011

Issued

Aug 5, 2011

Abate by

Sep 7, 2011

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,115 Reduced

Issued

Aug 5, 2011

Abate by

Sep 7, 2011

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,590 Reduced

Issued

Aug 5, 2011

Abate by

Oct 14, 2011

Issued

Aug 5, 2011

Abate by

Oct 14, 2011