OSHA Inspection: ROTOBEC USA, INC.

Issued

2021-12-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2022-03-15 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $12288.00 · Current $9216.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances E200

General-duty citation text

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 in that employees were exposed to fire hazards due to deficient design and/or implementation of preventive and/or protective measures in its dust collection system:   Plasma Cutter Dust Collection System- The dust collection duct that carried combustible fine steel dust from the plasma cutter to the dust collector was not equipped with spark detection or fire suppression devices to prevent any sparks, embers or fires in the combustible steel dust from spreading to the dust collector, where a fire would endanger workers.  �	On June 8, 2021, the absence of any spark detection and either extinguishing methods or methods of diversion away from the collector in the duct enabled a fire to ignite in the dust collector resulting in the evacuation of the facility, fire department response and intervention, and the destruction of the working components of the dust collector.  �	On June 17, 2021, a second fire ignited in the dust collector due to the absence of any spark detection and either extinguishing methods or methods of diversion away from the collector in the duct, resulting in the evacuation of the facility, fire department response and intervention, and the destruction of the working components of the dust collector.  �	On November 9, 2021, a third fire ignited in the dust collector due to inadequate spark detection and either extinguishing methods or methods of diversion away from the collector in the duct, resulting in the evacuation of the facility, fire department response and intervention, and the destruction of the working components of the dust collector.