Inspection Detail
Inspection: 106863434 - Carborundum Corporation, Structural Ceramics Div.
Inspection Information - Office: Buffalo Area Office
Site Address:
Carborundum Corporation, Structural Ceramics Div.
23 Acheson Drive
Niagara Falls, NY 14303
Mailing Address:
, , 00000
Union Status: Union
SIC:3291
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Referral
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 01/15/1997
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 02/20/1998
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Referral | 901212258 | Yes |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Current Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Initial Penalty | $6,300 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $6,300 |
| Current Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $3,800 | $3,800 |
| FTA Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| # | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | FTA Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 01001 | Unclass | 5A0001 | 01/16/1997 | 12/31/1997 | $3,800 | $6,300 | $0 | P - Petition to Mod Abatement |
Investigation Summary
On August 24, 1996, a company was using a 5 ft diameter, 5 ft tall GCA vacuum furnace to heat treat silicon carbide parts. The furnace, manufactured by Vacuum Industries, Inc., was a bottom-loading, cold-walled batch furnace equipped with a closed loop water cooling system. The furnace, vertical and cylindrical in shape, uses electrical resistance heating elements. While the furnace operator was on break, an employee noticed a break in the cooling water line that supplied water to the bottom head of the furnace. He got Employee #1, a mechanic. Employees #2 and #3 arrived at the furnace to evaluate the problem. Employee #2 went over to the furnace and shut off the water valve for the bottom head water line which had ruptured. The furnace was at its maximum operating temperature of 2,150 degrees centigrade. The furnace exploded shortly thereafter, seriously burning Employees #1, #2, and #3. The explosion was caused by failures in the water cooling system and backup safety features. The furnace did not comply with all the safety requirements listed in NFPA 33D.
Keywords: BURN, FURNACE, WORK RULES, FIRE, MECHANIC, EQUIPMENT FAILURE, RUPTURE, EXPLOSION, VALVE
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 106863434 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Occupation not reported | ||
| 2 | 106863434 | Non Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Occupation not reported | ||
| 3 | 106863434 | Non Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Occupation not reported |
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