Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002A Hazard: FALLING

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 fire and explosion hazards caused by the presence of combustible dust: Repair Facility located at 140 Production Court, New Britain, Connecticut: Aluminum and titanium aircraft engine parts were de-burred using pneumatic hand tools which generated combustible dust. The Donaldson Torit Model VS1200 dust collection system provided was not designed and installed to be used with combustible metal dust. Specifically: 1.The collection hood provided at the de-burring workstation was not designed and maintained so that fine particles would either fall or be projected in the direction of airflow. (NFPA 484, Section 6.3.2.2) 2.The dry-type dust collector was located inside of the building. (NFPA 484, Section 6.3.2.5) 3.The dust collection system was not dedicated to the collection of aluminum or aluminum alloy dust. It was also used to collect nickel-based and steel based aircraft alloys and served a surface grinder used to modify milling machine tooling. (NFPA 484, Section 6.3.2.6) 4.The plastic hose that connected the exhaust hood to the dust collector was not short, straight, conductive and provided with a smooth interior surface, factors required to maximize free air flow and minimize accumulations of combustible dust inside the ductwork. (NFPA 484, Sections 6.3.3.4, & 6.3.3.5.1 & 10.4.4.2) 5.The pneumatic hand tools provided for use were not interlocked with the dust collector to ensure that the dust collector was on and properly functioning before deburring operations commenced. Also, a time delay switch or equivalent device was not provided on the dust collector to prevent hand tools from starting until the dust collector was in full operation. (NFPA 484, Section 6.3.4.7.1, 6.3.4.7.2, 10.4.4.6.1 & 10.4.4.6.2) 6.Exhaust air from the dust collector was recycled into the work area. (NFPA 484, Section 6.3.6 & 10.4.9) 7.A media type dust collector was used to collect titanium dust. The Donaldson Torit Vibra Shake dust collector contained dry fabric-type collection media. (NFPA, Section 10.4.8.1) Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to design and install a dust collection system that complies with generally accepted guidelines such as National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 484 Standard for Combustible Metals.