OSHA Inspection: ABLE DIE CASTING CORPORATION

Issued

Apr 25, 2013

Abate by

Jan 15, 2014

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $2,083 Reduced

Hazardous substances M110

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1):   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: combustible aluminum dust deflagration, explosion, or other fire hazards while working at or near dust collectors and associated upstream equipment which were not adequately designed to prevent or minimize employee exposure in the event of a deflagration or other fire event:  a) Able Die Casting Corporation: On or about January 22, 2013, employees were exposed to fire and deflagration hazards while working at or near the American Roto-Clone dust collector located outside and used to collect aluminum dust from finishing operations. The dust collector lacked means of (1) explosion protection and (2) upstream ductwork was deficient, as it was:  not conductive, not bonded and grounded, not as straight and short as possible and has capped ends that can accumulate aluminum dust.  Among other methods, a feasible method to correct this hazard would be to comply with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 484, Standard for Combustible Metals, 2012 Edition, Chapter 8 - Aluminum, for Dust Collection, see sections 8.7.3.3, 8.7.3.5.1.4, 8.7.3.7.1, 8.7.3.12.2, 8.7.3.13.1, 8.7.3.15, 8.7.3.19.1, 8.7.3.19.5.1, 8.7.3.19.5.2, and, 8.7.3.19.5.7;  and, FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheet 5-8, 2001 Static Electricity, Chapter 2, for Bonding and Grounding, and the Use of Conductive Material to Facilitate Bonding and Grounding, see Section 2.2.13, 2.3.1.1, 2.3.1.3 and 2.3.12.1.  Specifically, provide explosion venting to a safe location according to the requirements outlined in NFPA 68 - Guide for Venting of Deflagrations (2013 edition); ensure upstream ductwork is appropriately installed and constructed, according to NFPA 91 - Standard for Exhaust Systems for Air Conveying of Vapors, Gases and Mists and Noncombustible Particulate Solids (2013 edition); is as straight and short as possible, is constructed of conductive material and has no unused capped outlets or other dead spaces allowing the accumulation of aluminum dust. In addition, ensure all components of the dust collection system (ducts, collector, machinery) are bonded and grounded to minimize the accumulation of static electric charge; limit the retention of material in the collector to 0.45 kg (1 lb); ensure aluminum material is discharged into a metal container and covered tightly; and, interior hoods and ducts are regularly cleaned.   In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Apr 25, 2013

Abate by

May 14, 2013

Penalty

Initial $2,380 · Current $1,666 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.242(b):   Compressed air used for cleaning purposes was not reduced to less than 30 p.s.i.:  Able Die Casting Corporation, Machine Shop:   a) An employee was using compressed air for cleaning parts at the DT1 Haas (C-6) CNC machine and the compressed air was measured to be approximately 60 p.s.i.  b) An employee was using compressed air for cleaning parts at the Okuma CNC machine and the compressed air was measured to be approximately 50 p.s.i.  In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(d), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET), and in addition, documentation demonstrating that abatement is complete must be included with your certification.  This documentation may include, but is not limited to, evidence of the purchase or repair of the equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement, or other written records.

Issued

Apr 25, 2013

Abate by

May 14, 2013

Penalty

Initial $595 · Current $417 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1904.10(a):     The employer did not record all cases on the OSHA 300 Log when an employee's hearing test (audiogram) revealed that the employee had experienced a work-related Standard Threshold Shift (STS) in hearing in one or both ears, and the employee's total hearing level is 25 decibels (dB) or more above audiometric zero (averaged at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz) in the same ear(s) as the STS.    a) Able Die Casting Corporation: An employee experienced a work-related Standard Threshold Shift (STS) in hearing in one ear and the employee's total hearing level is 25 decibels (dB) or more above audiometric zero (averaged at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz) in the same ear as the STS and the case was not recorded on the 2012 OSHA Log.    In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).

Issued

Apr 25, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 8111

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.95(i)(3):  Employees were not given the opportunity to select their hearing protectors from a variety of suitable hearing protectors provided by the employer:  a) Able Die Casting Corporation: Employees in the Die Casting Departments and the Machine Shop were exposed to noise levels greater than OSHA's Action Level of 85 dBA as an 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA) and they were not given the opportunity to select from a variety of hearing protectors.    No abatement certification or documentation is required for this item.