OSHA Inspection: LATROBE SPECIALTY METALS, LLC

Issued

Sep 14, 2023

Abate by

Jan 16, 2024

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $15,625

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 to employees in that employees were exposed to dust explosion, deflagration, or other fire hazards while working at or near dust collection systems separating particulates containing nickel and magnesium from air, collecting the particulates, and transporting the particulates which were not designed, installed, and located to prevent or minimize exposure in the event of a deflagration, explosion, or other uncontrolled fire event:  a) Facility, located at 2626 Ligonier Street, Latrobe, PA 15650: On or about April 19, 2023, employees were exposed to dust explosion, deflagration, or other fire hazards while conducting cleaning and maintenance activities on the Latrobe VIM II Mag Dust Transfer System.  b) Facility, located at 2626 Ligonier Street, Latrobe, PA 15650: On or about April 19, 2023, procedures were not developed, documented, and utilized for the control of hazardous energy generated by particulates containing nickel and magnesium coming into contact with air on the external dust transfer line when employees were manually clearing a clog of the particulates.   Recommended Abatement:  a) In the VIM 2 Vacuum Pump Room, on or about April 19, 2023 - The filters in the Mag Dust Argon Transport System used to separate particulates containing nickel and magnesium from air did not have pressure drop or equivalent sensors to monitor accumulation levels across the dry-type filtering media.  b) In the VIM 2 Vacuum Pump Room, on or about April 19, 2023 - The ingress and accumulation of water in the Mag Dust Argon Transport System caused particulates containing nickel and magnesium to clog in the filters, slide gates, cones, and argon dust transport line of the Mag Dust Argon Transport System.  c) In the VIM 2 Vacuum Pump Room, on or about April 19, 2023 - The Mag Dust Argon Transport System did not have fire detection and alarm devices that interlock and deenergize the system as well as provide an alarm.  d) In the VIM 2 Vacuum Pump Room, on or about April 19, 2023 - The filters in the Mag Dust Argon Transport System did not have explosion protection while being used to separate particulates containing nickel and magnesium from air and collect them.    e) In the VIM 2 Vacuum Pump Room, on or about April 19, 2023 - The filters in the Mag Dust Argon Transport System did not have fire protection while being used to separate particulates containing nickel and magnesium from air and collect them.  f) In the VIM 2 Vacuum Pump Room, on or about April 19, 2023 - The argon dust transport line in the Mag Dust Argon Transport System where particulates containing nickel and magnesium are conveyed in air during the manual cleaning sequence did not have deflagration protection.