Pennsylvania Code
Title 34 - LABOR AND INDUSTRY
Part I - Department of Labor and Industry
Chapter 47 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Subchapter E - FOUNDRIES
SPECIFICATIONS
Section 47.163 - Smoke, steam, gases, and dust

(a) Ventilation. When smoke, steam, gases or dust, arising from any of the operations of the foundry, are dangerous to health or eyes, and when a natural circulation of air does not carry off such smoke, steam, gases or dust there shall be installed and operated hoods, ventilators, fans or other mechanical means of ventilation.

(b) Castings. The cleaning and chipping of castings shall be done in separate cleaning rooms, except that in existing installations where traveling cranes or cars are used for conveying castings into the rooms, a separating partition shall be erected not less than 12 feet in height. In existing installations, where the crane cage or crane girders do not permit the erection of a 12 foot partition, the height of the partition may be reduced sufficiently to permit the clearance of cranes and cars. Large castings may be chipped or cleaned by hand in the molding and casting room, if sufficient protection is furnished by the use of a curtain, screen, or some other means equally good to protect employes who are otherwise employed in the cleaning rooms. This requirement does not apply if mechanical contrivances are used for cleaning castings, and the dust and particles arising from it are effectively removed at the point of origin by an exhaust system.

(c) Exhaust systems. When tumbler mills are used, exhaust systems shall be installed to carry off effectively the dust arising from the cleaning of castings, except when the mill is operated outside the foundry. This requirement shall not prohibit the use of a water barrel to clean castings. Sand blast operations shall be carried on in the open air or in a separate room solely for such purposes. The milling of cupola cinders, when done inside the foundry, shall be carried on by an exhaust or water mill.

(d) Floor slope. The floor beneath and immediately surrounding the cupola shall slope and drain away from the base of it.

(e) Compressed air. Cores shall not be blown out of castings by compressed air, unless such work is done outside the foundry or in a special room or dustproof enclosure. Men employed in cleaning castings by compressed air or sand blast shall be provided and wear approved head and eye protectors.