OSHA Inspection: REYES AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, LLC

Issued

May 6, 2011

Abate by

May 25, 2011

Penalty

Initial $6,300

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 of lack
of electrical bonding and grounding in material transportation systems for
combustible dust,
increasing the risk of fire, explosion, and/or deflagration, which are
likely to cause death or
serious physical harm to employees:
a)Outside Silo 1: On or about January 06, 2011, and at times prior
thereto, the
employer did not ground the silo used to hold MYTEX polymer.  Employees(s)
were exposed to fires and explosions that can occur when combustible dust
in the
polymer was transported through a pneumatic conveying system that was not
properly bonded.
b)Outside Silo 2: On or about January 06, 2011, and at times prior
thereto, the
employer did not ground the silo used to hold DOW polymer.  Employees(s)
were exposed to fires and explosions that can occur when combustible dust
in the
polymer was transported through a pneumatic conveying system that was not
properly bonded.
c)Outside Silo 3: On or about January 06, 2011, and at times prior
thereto, the
employer did not ground the silo used to hold BASELL polymer.  Employees(s)
were exposed to fires and explosions that can occur when combustible dust
in the
polymer was transported through a pneumatic conveying system that was not
properly bonded.
d)Injection Molding Area, Polymer Pneumatic Conveying System: On or about
January 06, 2011, and at times prior thereto, the employer did not provide
electrical bonding between nonconductive parts of the pneumatic conveying
system.  Employees(s) were exposed to fires and explosions that can occur
when
combustible dust in the polymer was transported through a pneumatic
conveying
system that was not properly bonded.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHODS
TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD ARE TO FOLLOW NFPA 654-2006 SECTION 9.3.1.3 TO
ENSURE THAT BONDING AND GROUNDING WITH A RESISTANCE OF LESS THAN
1.0 X 106 OHMS TO GROUND SHALL BE PROVIDED FOR CONDUCTIVE
COMPONENTS.
Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, within (10) calendar days, the employer must
submit an abatement
plan describing the actions it is taking to ensure that the silos are
grounded and the polymer
transfer system at the injection molding area is properly bonded with a
resistance of less than
1.0 x 106 ohms to ground.