Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 002 Hazard: ELECTRIC

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, including severe burns, to employees in that employees were exposed to dust explosion, deflagration, and other fire hazards because of the improper design and maintenance of dust collection systems. In the Pellet Mill, combustible cellulose fiber dust was produced and the following deficiencies were noted: a) Portions of the dust collection ductwork were constructed with non-conductive and combustible PVC material; b) The dust collector did not have explosion prevention systems and was located inside the building; c) The dust collector did not have an isolation device to prevent the propagation of a fire or explosion downstream of the dust collector; d) Floor sweepings were returned into the hopper without screening the material for potential ignition sources; e) Clouds of combustible dust were created when a leaf blower (not intrinsically safe) was used to force dust off of surfaces in an areas where there were ignition sources were present; and f) There was no emergency action plan or fire prevention plan to guide employees in the prevention or response to an explosion or fire. NFPA Standard 654 - 2006 Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Explosion from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids: Section 7.6.1: "Ducts that handle combustible particulate solids shall conform to the requirements of NFPA 91, Standard for Exhaust Systems for Air Conveying of Vapors, Gases, Mists, and Noncombustible Particulate Solids, except as amended by the requirements of this chapter" Section 7.13.1.1.1: "Where an explosion hazard exists, air-material separators shall be located outside of buildings" Section 7.13.1.5: "Isolation devices shall be provided for air-material separators in accordance with 7.1.4" Section 9.1.1.2: "Floor sweepings shall not be returned to any machine" Section 8.2.2.1: "Surfaces shall be cleaned in a manner that minimizes the generation of dust clouds" Among other methods, feasible abatement methods to correct this hazard is to comply with the guidelines of NFPA 654-2006, "Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling ", including but not limited to: a) Construct all dust collection components with conductive and non-combustible materials; b) The dust collector did not have explosion protection systems and was located inside the building;c) Install isolation devices on the dust collector; d) Screen floor sweepings for ignition sources before adding into the hopper; e) If a blow-down methods is used to clean, (1) the area should be vacuumed prior to blow-down (2) Electrical equipment not suitable for Class II locations and other sources of ignition shall be shut down or removed from the area (3) Only compressed air at a maximum of 15 p.s.i. shall be used, and (4) assure there are no hot surfaces in the area; and f) Develop an emergency action and fire protection plan. ***Abatement documentation is required for this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(d)***