OSHA Inspection: UNIVERSAL RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Issued

Jul 27, 2020

Abate by

Apr 1, 2021

Penalty

Initial $9,543 · Current $7,157 Reduced

Hazardous substances M110

General-duty citation text

OSHA 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 were exposed to combustible recycled materials (i.e. plastics and metals) dust deflagration, explosion, and/or other fire hazards while working at or near two indoor dust separation and collection systems that were not adequately located, designed, and equipped to prevent or materially reduce employee exposures in the event of an internal deflagration or other fire event:    a) The indoor Amtech ATPS-20 dry-type, horizontal cartridge dust collector used to collect fugitive dust from the upstream processes, including the Q140 primary shredder, lacked a means of 1) explosion protection, and 2) deflagration propagation protection (isolation).  Employees working near the dust collector were exposed to explosion hazards such as exiting flame front, exiting pressure wave, and projectiles in the event of an internal deflagration resulting in an over-pressurization of the vessel.  Employees working near or upstream of the dust collector were exposed to deflagration propagation hazards such as exiting flame front in the event of an internal deflagration resulting in propagation of a flame front outside of the vessel.     b) The indoor Torit Downflo II DF T2-4 dry-type, horizontal cartridge dust collector used to collect fugitive dust from the upstream processes, including the size reduction process Q85 secondary shredder, lacked a means of 1) explosion protection, and 2) deflagration propagation protection (isolation). Employees working near the dust collector were exposed to explosion hazards such as exiting flame front, exiting pressure wave, and projectiles in the event of an internal deflagration resulting in an over pressurization of the vessel.  Employees working near or upstream of the dust collector were exposed to deflagration propagation hazards such as exiting flame front in the event of an internal deflagration resulting in propagation of a flame front outside of the vessel.      Among other methods, feasible methods to correct these hazards are outlined in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 652, �Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust,, 2019 ed.� � Sections 9.3.4.1 (dust collector indoor locations), 9.7 (explosion prevention / protection), 9.7.3 (equipment protection), 9.7.4 (equipment isolation) and Chapter 7 �Dust Hazards Analysis�.  Specifically - Perform a dust hazards analysis (DHA) within the guidelines of NFPA 652 to determine the most appropriate method of abatement based on the specific combustion properties of the dusts handled by each dust collection system.  Depending on the results of the DHA, options for abatement may include, but may not be limited to, the following:    (A) [1] Relocate the dust collectors to an outdoor location, provide a method of explosion protection (such as explosion venting to a safe outdoor location in accordance with NFPA 68 �Standard on Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting� or a deflagration detection and chemical suppression system in accordance with NFPA 69 �Standard on Explosion Protection Systems�), and [2] provide methods of deflagration propagation protection for vessel outlets (such as a flow-actuate flap valve isolation device designed in accordance with NFPA 69 or a chemical isolation system in accordance with NFPA 69 to protect the upstream processes & a rotary valve isolation device designed in accordance with NFPA 69 to protect the area underneath the unit)., or      (B) [1] Provide the indoor dust collectors with a method of explosion protection (such as explosion venting to a safe outdoor location in accordance with NFPA 68, explosion venting through a listed flame-arresting and dust retention device in accordance with NFPA 68, or a deflagration detection and chemical suppression system in accordance with NFPA 69) , and [2] provide methods of deflagration propagation protection for vessel outlets (such as a flow-actuate flap valve isolation device designed in accordance with NFPA 69 or a chemical isolation system in accordance with NFPA 69 to protect the upstream processes & a rotary valve isolation device designed in accordance with NFPA 69 to protect the area underneath the unit).    Additional NFPA combustible dust standards may also be need to be reviewed for guidance including NFPA 484 �Standard for Combustible Metals, 2019 ed.� and NFPA 654 �Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids, 2020 ed.�

Issued

Jul 27, 2020

Abate by

Aug 17, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,543 · Current $7,157 Reduced

Hazardous substances E200M110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:    On or about January 29, 2020, employees were not provided effective information and training on the hazardous nature of the combustible dusts, including the ability to catch fire, deflagrate or explode, in their work area at the time of initial assignment.

Issued

Jul 27, 2020

Abate by

Aug 17, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances M110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(2)(ii): The employer did not provide information to the employees on operations in their work area where hazardous chemicals were present:  On or about January 29, 2020, employees were not provided information on the operation in their work area where combustible dust is present, including the Amtech ATPS-20 Dry-type, horizontal cartridge dust collector Torit Downflo II DF T2-4 Dry-type, horizontal cartridge dust collector.

Issued

Jul 27, 2020

Abate by

Aug 17, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances M110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(ii): Employee training did not include the physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area:  On or about January 29, 2020, employees were not provided training that included the combustible dust hazards such as elements of a combustible dust fire, deflagration, explosion, ignition sources, hazardous outcomes, hazard mechanisms and potential injuries.

Issued

Jul 27, 2020

Abate by

Aug 17, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances M110

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(iii): Employee training did not include the measures employees can take to protect themselves from chemical hazards, including specific procedures the employer had implemented to protect employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as appropriate work practices, emergency procedures and personal protective equipment to be used:  On or about January 29, 2020, employees were not provided training that included the measure employees can take to protect themselves from combustible dust hazards, such as housekeeping, explosion control methodologies, evacuation procedures, emergency shutdown procedures, and flame retardant clothing requirements.

Issued

Jul 27, 2020

Abate by

Aug 24, 2020

Penalty

Initial $26,718 · Current $13,494 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(p)(1): Powered industrial truck(s) found to be in need of repair, defective, or in any way unsafe had not been taken out of service until restored to safe operating condition(s):    On or about January 29, 2020, powered industrial trucks found to be in need of repair, defective or in any way unsafe were not taken out of service until restored to safe operating conditions, as follows:    a) Crown sit down rider forklift, #2, serial number 9A219265, was not removed from service when the seat was damaged and needed to be replaced, the tires were getting worn, small chunk was missing in the tire, and the mast hose was eaten up.      b) Crown sit down rider forklift, #5, serial number 9A210012, was not removed from service when the hydraulic hoses were damaged and there was a hydraulic leak.    c) On January 28, 2020, Caterpillar sit down rider forklift, #6, serial number AT81002736, was not removed from service when the hydraulic hoses were damaged and there was a hydraulic leak.    d) Caterpillar sit down rider forklift, #8, serial number AT9010730, was not removed from service when there was a transmission fluid leak.    e) Caterpillar sit down rider forklift, #9, serial number AT9000548, was not removed from service when the hydraulic hoses were damaged, there was a hydraulic leak, the horn was barely audible, the seat belt was broken and a light was out.    f) Caterpillar sit down rider forklift, #12, serial number AT9010728, was not removed from service when the back up light was broken/non-operational.      Universal Recycling Technologies, LLC was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.178(p)(1), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 1288466, citation number 1, item number 1 and was affirmed as a final order on February 28, 2018, with respect to a workplace located at 2535 Beloit Avenue, Janesville, WI 53546.