Violation Detail
Standard Cited: 5A0001 OSH Act General Duty Paragraph
Inspection Nr: 304961527
Citation: 01001
Citation Type: Serious
Abatement Date: 08/07/2002 X
Initial Penalty: $5,000.00
Current Penalty: $3,000.00
Issuance Date: 07/30/2002
Nr Instances: 1
Nr Exposed: 6
Related Event Code (REC): A
Gravity: 10
Report ID: 0627700
Contest Date:
Final Order:
Emphasis:
| Type | Latest Event | Event Date | Penalty | Abatement Due Date | Citation Type | Failure to Abate Inspection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penalty | I: Informal Settlement | 08/22/2002 | $3,000.00 | 08/07/2002 | Serious | |
| Penalty | Z: Issued | 07/30/2002 | $5,000.00 | 08/07/2002 | Serious |
Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: BURNS
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 water/metal explosions resulting from inadequate charge drying procedures. On or about 2/1/02, a melter was fatally burned during a furnace explosion that was apparently caused by introduction of wet charge material into the melt. Among other means, acceptable and feasible means of abatement include: 1.Develop and implement a written work procedure for drying wet charge materials using natural gas torches. This procedure should at a minimum include the following: a)A specific assignment of responsibility to those employees who will be responsible for drying the charge materials. Ensure that drying of the metal is performed only by employees who are specifically assigned that responsibility. b)A specific assignment of responsibility to those employees who will be responsible for inspecting the charge materials after drying to ensure all moisture has been removed from the metal. Ensure that inspection of the metal is performed only by employees who are specifically assigned that responsibility. c)Specific criteria for determining which scrap material requires drying and which does not. d)Detailed work procedures to be followed when drying the charge materials using natural gas torches which will ensure uniform and complete drying of the metal. e)A detailed description of the charge inspection procedures that will be followed to ensure that no residual moisture remains in the charge material when the drying has been completed. These procedures should be sufficient to ensure that wet metal is never placed into the furnace. f)A means of enforcing the charge drying procedures and the charge inspection procedures. 2.Store all charge materials in a covered area to prevent collection of moisture in the charge materials. 3.Install a pre-heater or scrap dryer designed to maximize the removal of water or moisture before the charge enters the metal bath.4.Protect employees from metal splash through the use of a remote charging system to feed all charge materials, including remelt, into the furnace. Remote charging systems permit the furnace operator to be safely back from the furnace or behind protective screens during charging. Use American Foundry's vibratory conveyor to feed all charge materials, including remelt risers, into the furnace. If remelt risers are too long to be fed in this matter, cut the remelt into shorter pieces or design the gates and risers in the castings so they are the right size. 5.Use a combination of the options listed above, such as a preheater/dryers and remote charging system, undercover storage of charge materials and detailed work procedures for drying charge material/inspection of charge material, etc. The employer is not limited to any of the recommended abatement methods.
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