Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: ELECTRIC

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 potential fire and explosion hazards caused by combustible dusts, including but not limited to titanium, being collected into an inadequately designed dust collection system: EDAC Aero Engine Component Repair (AECR), Spray Area: A.A media dust collector, the DustHog SC600, was used to collect combustible dusts such as titanium. B.The DustHog SC600 dust collection system was used for collecting dust from titanium, nickel, magnesium, steel, cobalt and aluminum materials, without being thoroughly cleaned. C.Air from the DustHog SC600 dry dust collector was exhausted into the work area. D.The dust collector and machines were not posted that they were for use with combustible metals and different types of metals were processed into the same dust collection system. Specific Abatement Documentation is Required Abatement Note: Potential ignition sources include sparks from grinding metals and static electricity from the adjacent spray booth, in which the ventilation system is not interlocked with the spray gun and the spray gun is not grounded. NFPA 484, Standard for Combustible Metals, Chapter 10 covers Machining, Fabrication and Finishing of Titanium Parts. Adherence to the following sections of the NFPA standard would ensure compliance: 10.4.4.4 If the titanium dust-collecting unit is to be used for other materials, it shall be thoroughly cleaned of all incompatible materials prior to and after use. 10.4.4.5 Grinders, buffers and associated equipment with dust collectors utilized for processing titanium shall be provided with a placard that reads as follows: CAUTION: Current Use: Titanium Metal - Fire or Explosion Can Result with Other Metals. 10.4.8.1 Electrostatic and media collectors shall not be used. 10.4.8.6 Dust shall be removed from the dry collectors at the end of each workday and at more frequent intervals if conditions warrant. 10.4.9 Recycling of Exhaust Air. Recycling of air from dry dust collectors into buildings shall be prohibited. 10.7.8 All electrical equipment and wiring in titanium production processing, handling, and storage facilities shall comply with NFPA 70, National Electric Code. 10.7.10 All metal objects or equipment used to process titanium shall be electrically bonded and grounded to prevent accumulations of static electricity.s