Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: DUST&FUMES

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 explosions, deflagration, or other fire hazards from improperly designed dust collection systems: In the following locations, combustible dust was generated, processed or collected into improperly designed dust process equipment and collection systems: A.Bracket Cell: 1.Torit Downdraft bench: Employees de-burred titanium parts using hand-held pneumatic tools into an self-contained down draft bench. a.The dust collector was provided with dry type filter media. (NFPA 484, Section 10.4.8.1) b.Exhaust air was blown out of the dust collector into the general work area. (NFPA 484, Section 10.4.9) c.The dust collector was not marked or labeled to indicate that it was being used for titanium. (NFPA 484, Section 10.4.4.5) d.Dust producing equipment, such as hand-held pneumatic tools, were not interlocked with the airflow from the exhaust blower to ensure that they could not be used if the dust collector was not in operation. (NFPA 484, Section 10.4.4.6.1) e.Dust producing equipment, such as hand-held pneumatic tools, were not provided with a time delay switch or equivalent device to ensure that they could only be used when the dust collector was in complete operation. (NFPA 484, Section 10.4.4.6.2) 2.Enco dust collector: Employees deburred parts using a soft wheel mounted on a pedestal grinder. The guards for the buffing wheels were used as capture hoods for an Enco dust collector. a.A fabric bag was used to capture and contain the dust generated. (NFPA 484, Section 10.4.8.1) b.Exhaust air was blown out of the dust collection bag and into the general work area. (NFPA 484, Section 10.4.9) c.The ducts connecting the machine to the dust collector was plastic, non- conductive and grooved on the inside diameter. (NFPA 484, Sections 10.4.4.2 and 10.4.6.5.1) d.The dust collector was not marked or labeled to indicate that it was being used for titanium. (NFPA 484, Section 10.4.4.5) B.Blank and Form Cell: Two Dynabrade Metal Finishing Stations were used to collect titanium dust during finishing and deburring operations. The dust collectors were not designed and maintained properly to be used with combustible dust: 1.WC0714, Dynabrade Metal Finishing Station model number 64100, serial number 2476. a.The dust collector was not marked or labeled to indicate that it was being usedfor titanium. (NFPA 484, Section 10.4.4.5) b.Dust producing equipment, such as hand-held pneumatic tools, were not interlocked with the airflow from the exhaust blower to ensure that they could not be used if the dust collector was not in operation. The dust collector was in use without the water level at the proper level to collect the titanium dust generated and titanium dust was blowing out of the exhaust. (NFPA 484, Section 10.4.7.7.1) c.Dust producing equipment, such as hand-held pneumatic tools, were not provided with a time delay switch or equivalent device to ensure that they could only be used when the dust collector was in complete operation. (NFPA 484, Section 10.4.7.7.2) d.Exhaust was blown in the general work area. (NFPA 484, Sections 10.4.7.1 and 10.4.7.1.2) 2.WC0715, Dynabrade Metal Finishing Station model 64300, serial number 2527. a.The dust collector was not marked or labeled to indicate that it was being used for titanium. (NFPA 484, Section 10.4.4.5) b.Dust producing equipment, such as hand-held pneumatic tools, were not interlocked with the airflow from the exhaust blower to ensure that they could not be used if the dust collector was not in operation. (NFPA 484, Section 10.4.7.7.1) c.Dust producing equipment, such as hand-held pneumatic tools, were not provided with a time delay switch or equivalent device to ensure that they could only be used when the dust collector was in complete operation. (NFPA 484, Section 10.4.7.7.2) d.Exhaust was blown in the general work area. (NFPA 484, Sections 10.4.7.1 and 10.4.7.1.2) C.FPI Cell: Zyglo Dry Powder Developer Zp-4B was used in a Magnaflux Developer Unit to coat parts for inspection. The excess dust was collected into a Donaldson Torit dust collector. a.The Magnaflux Developer Unit was not designed with deflagration or explosion suppression equipment. Parts were processed on an ungrounded metal support. (NFPA 654, Section 7.1.2.1) b.The plastic duct connecting the the Developer Unit to the dust collector was plastic and non- conductive. (NFPA 654, Section 7.6.1 referencing NFPA 91, Sections 2.2 and 5.2) c.The Donaldson Torit dust collector was located inside of the building. (NFPA 654, Section 7.13.1.1.1) d.The Donaldson Torit dust collector exhausted into the building and general work area. (NFPA 654, Sections 7.13.1.7.3 and 6.1.3) e.The Donaldson Torit dust collector was not designed with deflagration or explosion suppression equipment. (NFPA 654, 7.1.2.1) f.System components such as, but not limited to, the plastic duct connecting the Developer Unitand dust collector, the Torit filter shaker unit and the dust collector filter, were not conductive and/or grounded. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to ensure that all combustible dust generated during finishing operations is collected into properly designed dust collection equipment that meets generally recognized consensus standards such as National Fire Protection Association Standard 484 Standard for Combustible Metals and National Fire Protection Association Standard 654 Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids. Specific Abatement Documentation is Required