Many workplace environments in our industry require respiratory
protection. There are many types of respiratory protecting depending on the
process and hazard exposure. The Aluminium Plant Safety Blog has a recent story
where a government safety organization fined an aluminium foundry for respiratory
and hearing violations.
Because this company will have the opportunity to contest
this fine, the APSB has left out the company name.
An aluminium foundry has been cited during the month of
September 2014 for two willful and two repeat violations by the U.S. Department
of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. An early spring 2014
follow-up inspection found the foundry failed to maintain requirements of
OSHA's respiratory protection and hearing conservation standards. The foundry, which
specializes in aluminum sand casting, was previously cited for these violations
in December 2012. OSHA has proposed additional penalties of over $37,000 Euros.
"OSHA's follow-up found that the foundry initially
fixed hazards cited in the first inspection, but lapsed into unsafe practices. The
foundry did not maintain the important standards that protect the long-term
hearing and respiratory health of employees," said the OSHA's area local director.
"Employers, who are cited for repeat violations, demonstrate a lack of
commitment to employee safety and health."
OSHA found that the aluminium failed to provide medical
evaluations and annual fit testing for employees using respirators. The company
failed to obtain yearly audiograms for employees exposed to noise at or above
the eight-hour time-weighted average and did not post a safety instruction sign
to warn employees that combustible aluminum dust should not be allowed to
accumulate in the grinding room.
OSHA issues repeat violations if an employer was previously
cited for the same or a similar violation of any standard, regulation, rule or
order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five
years.
The aluminium foundry has 15 business days from receipt of
its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with
OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent
Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
“When selecting respirators, employers must consider the
chemical and physical properties of the contaminant, as well as the toxicity
and concentration of the hazardous material and the amount of oxygen present.
Other selection factors are nature and extent of the hazard, work rate, area to
be covered, mobility, work requirements and conditions, as well as the
limitations and characteristics of the available respirators.” This was taken
from OSHA. For our readers in the United States please note the use of the word
“must”. One of the definitions of
the word must is something that should
not be overlooked or missed. Ignorance in understanding any governmental
safety regulations will fall upon deaf ears during an inspection process.
There are many avenues around the globe that
an aluminium company can turn to for assistance. From national trade
associations, fellow aluminium companies, and last but not least the internet. Two
associations in our industry have done a great job in hosting safety
conferences. Next month the Aluminum Association will be hosting a safety
conference in Nashville, Tennessee in the United States. Information about the
Cast House Safety Workshop can be found here. Whereas in Europe the European
Aluminium Association will hold their safety conference next summer. The APSB
will post information about the EAA’s event as soon as it is formalized.
The Occupational Safety Health Administration
has a useful document regarding respiratory protection shown below. It can be downloaded here.
In addition the University of San Diego in the United States has a useful presentation regarding respiratory fit testing that can be viewed here.
The Occupational Safety Health Administration
has a useful document regarding hearing protection shown below. Which can be downloaded here.
This post can be used as a learning tool for every plant who
has workers who wear respirator protection and hearing protection while
performing a job function. Please review violations that the aluminium
foundry was cited for and compare how your facility would stand against an
inspection on those items.
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