OSHA Inspection: COMBINED SYSTEMS, INC.

Issued

Aug 12, 2020

Abate by

Sep 8, 2020

Penalty

Initial $8,848 · Current $4,500 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:    A.)  Combined Systems, Inc., 388 Kinsman Rd, Jamestown, PA 16134, Building M, on or about February 14, 2020 and times prior thereto:  Employees were exposed to fire and explosion hazards during work operations including, but not limited to, the disposal of explosive materials.  An employee was depositing explosive materials into mineral oil when a flash fire occurred.  The employee sustained injuries due to the fire.  The employee was not protected by devices/means between the employee and the disposal process of the explosive material.    B.)  Combined Systems, Inc., 388 Kinsman Rd, Jamestown, PA 16134, Building M, on or about February 14, 2020 and times prior thereto:  Employees were exposed to fire and explosion hazards during work operations including, but not limited to, the disposal of explosive materials.  An employee was depositing explosive materials into mineral oil when a flash fire occurred.  Employees in the immediate area sustained injuries due to the fire.  Employees were not protected by devices/means between the employees and the disposal process of the explosive material.    C.)  Combined Systems, Inc., 388 Kinsman Rd, Jamestown, PA 16134, Building M, on or about February 14, 2020 and times prior thereto:  Employees were exposed to fire and explosion hazards during work operations including, but not limited to, the disposal of explosive materials.  An employee was depositing explosive materials into mineral oil when a flash fire occurred.  The initial flash fire then began a chain reaction of explosions in the production machines behind the employee.  These production machine included, but were not limited to, an XY loader and the FillPro 5000.  The employee and employees in the area sustained injuries due to the fire.  Means were not provided so that fire in one workstation would not propagate and ignite material in the next workstation.

Issued

Aug 12, 2020

Abate by

Sep 8, 2020

Penalty

Initial $8,848 · Current $4,500 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 were exposed to explosion hazards associated explosive materials from static discharge:    A.)  Combined Systems, Inc., 388 Kinsman Rd, Jamestown, PA 16134, Building M, on or about February 14, 2020 and times prior thereto:  Employees were exposed to fire and explosion hazards during disposal of explosive materials.  An employee was depositing explosive materials into mineral oil when an electrical static discharge (ESD) occurred.  The ESD, coupled with the explosive powder mixture, caused a flash fire and subsequent employee injuries.  The employee were not protected by approved static controls that would prevent the accumulation of hazardous levels of static charge.  Sources of static electricity included, but were not limited to, street clothing used as work clothing.  In addition, anti-static devices or methods were not used.