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 in that employees were exposed to fire and/or explosion hazards due to their use of an indoor, enclosureless wood dust collector to collect combustible metal dusts: A.Employees buffing and grinding metal parts which produced combustible metal dusts, including but not limited to aluminum dust, used an enclosureless wood dust collector (Grizzly Industrial Inc. Model G1029) which was not designed to collect combustible metal dusts, which was located indoors, and which recycled air back into the work area. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct these hazards is to use an appropriate type dust collector installed outside the building and ensure that recycling air into the building is prohibited as set forth in Chapter 6.3.6 of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 484, Standard for Combustible Metals. B.Employees buffing and grinding metal parts which produced combustible metal dusts, including but not limited to aluminum dust, used an enclosureless wood dust collector (Grizzly Industrial Inc. Model G1029) which was not designed to collect combustible metal dusts, which had ungrounded flexible plastic ducts, and which failed to collect and transport all the dust from the operations it served. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct the hazard is to install ducts constructed of conductive material and fabricated and assembled with smooth interior surfaces and with internal lap joints facing the direction of airflow, which would not allow accumulations of dust as set forth in Chapter 6.3.3 of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 484, Standard for Combustible Metals. C.Employees buffing and grinding metal parts which produced combustible metal dusts - including dust from aluminum, nickel alloy, cobalt, and stainless steel - used a single enclosureless wood dust collector (Grizzly Industrial Inc. Model G1029), which was not designed to collect combustible metal dusts, and the employer failed both to dedicate a single collector to aluminum/aluminum alloy dust only and to clean the dust from this dry collector daily. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct these hazards is to ensure that a separate dedicated dust collection system is used when capturing aluminum dust and that the dust is removed at least once each day or more frequently if conditions warrant in accordance with Chapters 6.3.2.6 and 6.3.5.5 as set forth in Chapter 6.3.6 of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 484, Standard for Combustible Metals. Specific Abatement Documentation is Required.tion