OSHA Inspection: SMITHS TUBULAR SYSTEMS LACONIA INC. (TITEFLEX AEROSPACE)

Issued

Jul 21, 2016

Penalty

Initial $3,825 · Current $1,913 Reduced

Hazardous substances 14601860

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 was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to the hazard of being struck by chemical acid spray from the exit port of a metal tube during a cleaning process, resulting in acid burns to the eyes, face, and skin.    Location: Chemical Clean Room -  On or about March 14, 2016, a Hydrofluoric acid/Nitric acid solution was pumped into a 30 foot long metal tube for pre-cleaning in preparation for an Iridite coating process.  As the assembly was rotated to coat the internal surfaces, a pressure build-up occurred creating a chemical reaction in the tube due to inadequate work procedures/instructions.  This resulted in the formation of vapors and increased the pressure inside the tube. Due to the inability to outgas, the pressure built up from the chemical reaction until the bung end of the tube was forced out causing the splash injury to unprotected workers nearby.    Feasible and useful methods to correct the hazard include, but are not limited to: