OSHA Inspection: WHEMCO OHIO FOUNDRY INC.

Issued

Sep 30, 2014

Abate by

Oct 31, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $3,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): 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 operating heat treat furnaces were exposed to fire and explosion hazards due to the accumulation of natural gas during the furnace start-up operations.     a. Whemco Ohio Foundry Inc. located in Lima, Ohio;  The employer did not ensure furnaces such as but not limited to heat treat furnace #27 were equipped with combustion safe guards to prevent the inadvertent accumulation of natural gas in the furnaces during start-up activities.      b. Whemco Ohio Foundry Inc. located in Lima, Ohio;  The employer did not ensure furnaces such as but not limited to heat treat furnace #42, were equipped with combustion safe guards to prevent the inadvertent accumulation of natural gas in the furnaces during start-up activities.  On July 11, 2014 there was a natural gas explosion when employees were attempting to light the pilot lights for furnace #42.    c. Whemco Ohio Foundry Inc. located in Lima, Ohio;  The employer did not ensure furnaces such as but not limited to heat treat furnace #43, were equipped with combustion safe guards to prevent the inadvertent accumulation of natural gas in the furnaces during start-up activities.     d. Whemco Ohio Foundry Inc. located in Lima, Ohio;  The employer did not ensure furnaces such as but not limited to heat treat furnace #44, were equipped with combustion safe guards to prevent the inadvertent accumulation of natural gas in the furnaces during start-up activities.     e. Whemco Ohio Foundry Inc. located in Lima, Ohio;  The employer did not ensure furnaces such as but not limited to heat treat furnace #45, were equipped with combustion safe guards to prevent the inadvertent accumulation of natural gas in the furnaces during start-up activities.     Among other methods, feasible means to correct this hazard would be to install combustion safeguards as described in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 86 Standard for Ovens and Furnaces, 2015 edition - Section 8.5.1.2, 8.5.2.1, 8.8.2.1, 8.9.1, 8.9.2, 8.10.1, 8.10.2, and 8.10.5.