Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: STRUCK BY

North Carolina General Statute 95-129(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of North Carolina: 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 molten metal explosions: a)facility, the employer did not provide adequate procedures for the charging and melting process of the induction furnace for the employees to be able to recognize the inherent hazards of working in close proximity to molten metal. On June 3, 2008, three employees incurred first and second degree burns when they were struck by molten metal that exploded from a Pillar MK8 induction furnace due to molten metal leaking from the crucible and contacting the water in the induction coils. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct these hazards is to provide procedures for operations of the induction furnace to address potentially serious hazards and instructions for minimizing the hazards of molten metal during the charging and melting process. See Section 6.3.1 of the ANSI Z241.2 - 1981, Safety Requirements for Melting and Pouring of Metals in the Metalcasting Industry, which states that, "the employer shall establish procedures for furnace charging and additions to molten metal that minimize employee exposure to recognized hazards."