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"I don't want to start the world on fire" Topic


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1,500 hits since 30 Apr 2012
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Tom Bryant30 Apr 2012 6:07 p.m. PST

The soundtrack for this missive can be found here:

YouTube link

Please play this before continuing,

Ready? Good.

I work in a metal fabrication facility. We have six auto load laser cells and two single station laser cells. Now attached to these are a series of dust collectors to pick up the small particulates blown out of the cut areas. These are an iron oxide based material that is so fine, when spilled it flows like water. Needless to say proper cleanliness is important as metal dust this fine is flammable in the extreme.

Unfortunately, we tend to be somewhat short of a preventative maintenance program so the dust collectors don't get cleaned out as much as they should (We do however attempt to routinely change the filters) Anyway, one of the dust collectors started a fire a couple of months back. No big problem. It was to one of the older laser cells and was put out with fire extinguishers. Jump ahead to last week Wednesday. I come in to start work and say "hi" to one of our welders and ask what's up. He says, "We had a fire. The dust collector on laser six (one of our big lasers) went up."

Boy he wasn't kidding. They had to call the fire department, cleared the plant for two hours and run the ventilation system full bore, which is usually done only in the summertime. They had the cabinet open to the unit and the door and interior looked like components from the Apollo 1 spacecraft. Maybe now we'll install spark arrestors and a nitrogen gas dump into the dust collectors like we should.

Ditto Tango 2 330 Apr 2012 6:25 p.m. PST

Sounds like no one was hurt.

Managers, or more usually, the executive branch/bean counters never want to invest the time, switch-outs or shut-downs, and hours for PMs. Hopefully this was the "spark" for your folks!
--
Tim

Terrement30 Apr 2012 7:29 p.m. PST

Maybe now we'll install spark arrestors and a nitrogen gas dump into the dust collectors like we should.

I sure hope so but suspect that with the basic mindset that got them there in the first place, this will be a one time moment, the significance of which will fade in time until the next "accident."

JJ

zippyfusenet01 May 2012 5:42 a.m. PST

I don't expect that proposing government regulation will be popular, on TMP or where you work. But. Doesn't OSHA have anything to say about this? It sounds like this workplace could kill or cripple you any time.

Ed Mohrmann Supporting Member of TMP01 May 2012 5:45 a.m. PST

Tom, you might want to (or not – there could be
consequences) point out that this is basically a
safety issue, and that management who knew about
and ignored a safety issue subsequently did some
time as a guest of the government. It's called
'negligence'.

Granted, not real hard time, but time nonetheless.
The fines were impressive, too. OSHA is not vindictive,
but they do believe in workplace safety.

And oh by the way – does the company which carries
your company's insurance know about this condition
and periodically inspect the equipment for these kinds
of conditions ? If they don't, they should.

MahanMan01 May 2012 8:14 a.m. PST

Geez! I'm in charge of our PM program where I work, which my former supervisor put in place three years ago to prevent exactly this sort of thing from happening (and we works with dust too, not to mention things that can explode and poison the environment).

I have to agree with Ed; this needsneedsNEEDS to be brought to the attention of the company's head honchos, right now. Otherwise, it'll end in tears and a possible appearance on the next installment of Engineering Disasters.

Klebert L Hall01 May 2012 9:02 a.m. PST

You're lucky you only had a fire, instead of a dust explosion.
Industrial dust is bad news.
-Kle.

Personal logo Parzival Supporting Member of TMP01 May 2012 12:25 p.m. PST

I smell a huge negligence lawsuit in the making.
Unfortunately, it also smells like a "wrongful death and/or dismemberment" suit, too.

From what little I know about industrial workplace environment, this sounds like it's headed for tragedy, all because someone is either too lazy, stingy (or greedy) or just plain clueless to do what needs to be done.

If you've got any influence at all with a thinking manager or supervisor (rather than the show-up-for-the-check, suck-up-to-the-boss type), I'd approach him with just those concerns, especially if no positive action occurs as the result of this accident. Then I'd evaluate my own safety and if necessary look for a different place of employment.

Tom Bryant01 May 2012 1:13 p.m. PST

Well, here's the fun bit guys. The company was sold last November (more about that one in a later dispatch). Lets put it this way, it was a real eye-opener for the new owners when they saw what they were left with. Now, we trying to move to a lean manufacturing model (good luck with that one!) and trying to improve our work flow. Also from what I understand, the new owners are going to be deducting all, or as many of the costs as they can from what they paid the previous owner. From the sounds and looks of things we are headed in the right direction.

Ed Mohrmann Supporting Member of TMP01 May 2012 6:25 p.m. PST

Tom, I interpret your post to mean that the new owners
didn't look at the processes or equipment prior to buying
the business.

I sure hope that's an incorrect interpretation !

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