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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 302551759 - R. Freedman & Son Inc.
Inspection Information - Office: Albany Area Office
Site Address:
R. Freedman & Son Inc.
Tibbits Ave.
Green Island, NY 12183
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1533, Green Island, NY 12183
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:5093
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Referral
Scope: Complete
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 09/14/1999
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 12/11/2000
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Referral | 200742823 | Yes |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 7 | 1 | 3 | 11 | ||
| Current Violations | 7 | 1 | 3 | 11 | ||
| Initial Penalty | $7,200 | $0 | $4,200 | $0 | $0 | $11,400 |
| Current Penalty | $3,600 | $0 | $2,100 | $0 | $0 | $5,700 |
| 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 | Serious | 5A0001 | 10/14/1999 | 11/16/1999 | $788 | $1,575 | $0 | 11/04/1999 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 2. | 01002 | Serious | 19100147 F03 II | 10/14/1999 | 11/16/1999 | $563 | $1,125 | $0 | 11/04/1999 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 3. | 01003 | Serious | 19100178 P01 | 10/14/1999 | 11/16/1999 | $338 | $675 | $0 | 11/04/1999 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 4. | 01004 | Serious | 19100215 B09 | 10/14/1999 | 11/16/1999 | $338 | $675 | $0 | 11/04/1999 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 5. | 01005 | Serious | 19100253 B04 III | 10/14/1999 | 11/16/1999 | $450 | $900 | $0 | 11/04/1999 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 6. | 01006 | Serious | 19100305 B01 | 10/14/1999 | 11/16/1999 | $563 | $1,125 | $0 | 11/04/1999 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 7. | 01007 | Serious | 19100305 B02 | 10/14/1999 | 11/16/1999 | $563 | $1,125 | $0 | 11/04/1999 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 8. | 02001 | Repeat | 19100023 C01 | 10/14/1999 | 11/16/1999 | $2,100 | $4,200 | $0 | 11/04/1999 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 9. | 03001 | Other | 19100024 B | 10/14/1999 | 11/16/1999 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 11/04/1999 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 10. | 03002 | Other | 19100024 F | 10/14/1999 | 11/16/1999 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 11/04/1999 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 11. | 03003 | Other | 19100024 H | 10/14/1999 | 11/16/1999 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 11/04/1999 | F - Formal Settlement |
Investigation Summary
Employee #1, a crane operator at the R. Freedman & Son, Inc., scrap yard in Green Island, NY, placed a station wagon, a refrigerator, and an acetylene cylinder in an American Pulverizer Company Hammermill pre-ripper machine, serial #8062. The material exploded and a fire broke out in the machine. The cab door of the crane blew out and Employee #1 sustained a temporary ringing in his ears. The Green Island Fire Department and police responded to the explosion. One of the firemen who extinguished the fire stated that he saw what was apparently the remains of a 100 lb propane cylinder. The police reported that 40 windows in the company next door had been blown out. It was a routine procedure for this scrap yard to destroy propane and acetylene tanks, but they did not correctly prepare the cylinders for destruction. The company procedure was to vent the cylinders for 24 hours and to remove the valves prior to placing them in the pre-ripper machine or in the American Pulverizer Company's shredder machine, serial #66X90. In the case of acetylene cylinders, they would sometimes shear them with a Volvo trackhoe shredder attachment. The Compressed Gas Association and the National Propane Gas Association guidelines require that gas cylinders be purged after venting and before they are destroyed. Purging is done with an inert gas, water, or steam. Furthermore, the instruction manuals for both machines prohibited the placing of combustibles, liquid or gaseous fuels, and other substances that could cause explosions into the machines. Regarding acetylene cylinders, they were required to be burned in an intense fire for at least six hours prior to further destruction. Both of the Associations recommended that scrap yards NOT destroy compressed gas cylinders, and that it be done by qualified and trained individuals, manufacturers, or distributors of compressed gases.
Keywords: FLAMMABLE VAPORS, WORK RULES, COMPRESSED GAS, FIRE, EAR, SCRAP YARD, EXPLOSION, HEARING LOSS, MECH MAT HANDLING, CHEMICAL VAPOR
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 302551759 | Non Hospitalized injury | Hearing Loss | Crane and tower operators |