OSHA Inspection: R.J. CUSTOM PRODUCTS, INC. DBA ROJAHN COMPANY

Issued

May 29, 2008

Abate by

Feb 28, 2009

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

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 to employees in that employees were exposed
to severe burns from the
potential dust explosion, deflagration and fire hazards caused by the
improper design and maintenance of dust
collection system:
(a)Building 1, Department 35 - The following deficiencies were found with
dust collection
systems:
(1)PVC piping or plastic vent tubing was used to connect sections of duct
work to the
equipment.
(2)Dust collection systems were not grounded and bonded to each other and
to the
equipment on the system.
(3)The air flow of the collection system was not balanced for each piece
of
equipment.
(4)The air flow was not sufficient to capture most of the wood dust.
(5)The duct work was not constructed of all non-combustible material.
(6)The main dust collection system did not have any deflagration venting
to the outside.
(7)The deflagration vent on the outside Torit dust collector was directed
to a large glass
window that was leading into the spray booth area for the stain wiping
department.
(8)The employer did not inspect on a routine basis the dust collection
system and it was
not maintained in accordance with manufactures recommendations.
(b)Building 2, Department 30 - The following deficiencies were found with
dust collection
systems:
(9)Enclosureless dust systems were located within twenty feet of each
other.
(10)PVC piping or plastic vent tubing was used to connect sections of duct
work to the
equipment.
(11)The duct work and the enclosureless dust systems were not grounded and
bonded to
each other.
(12)The large belt sander was ducted to the main building dust collection
system and there
was back flash damper to stop or prevent a flame front from entering
Building 1 from
Building 2 in the event of a dust explosion.
(13)The enclosureless dust collection systems were not balance when new
collection points
were added.
(14)The employer did not inspect on a routine basis the dust collection
system and it was
not maintained in accordance with manufactures recommendations.
(15)The dust collection system was not capable of capturing the majority
of combustible
wood dust being generated.
(16)The enclosureless dust collection systems was not protected by a spark
detection
system.
"AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD
TO CORRECT THESE HAZARDS IS ALL DUCT WORK SHALL BE CONSTRUCTED METAL
AND BE BONDED AND GROUNDED FROM THE EQUIPMENT TO THE DUST COLLECTOR,
BALANCE THE DUST COLLECTION SYSTEMs SO THAT THE WOOD DUST IS CAPTURED
COMPLETELY, INCREASE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN ENCLOSURELESS SYSTEMS TO
TWENTY FEET, MOVE THE DEFLAGRATION VENT ON THE TORIT COLLECTOR SO THAT
IT DOES NOT PROJECT INTO THE OCCUPIED BUILDING, INSTALL A DEFLAGRATION
VENT TO THE OUTSIDE FROM THE DUST COLLECTION PIPES TO REDUCE OR
ELIMINATE ANY FLAME FRONT FROM ADVANCING, INSTALL A DEFLAGRATION VENT
ON THE DUCT WORK FROM BUILDING 2 TO BUILDING 1 SO THAT DEFLAGRATION AND
FLAME FRONT FROM ONE BUILDING WOULD NOT AFFECT ANOTHER BUILDING,
PERFORM INSPECTIONS OF THE DUST COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND PROTECT
ENCLOSURELESS DUST COLLECTION SYSTEMS WITH SPARK DETECTORS".
VERIFICATION REQUIREDTION

Issued

May 29, 2008

Abate by

Feb 28, 2009

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

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 to employees in that employees were exposed
to severe burns from the
potential dust explosion, deflagration and fire hazards caused by improper
design and maintenance of physical
plant:
(a)Building 1, Department 35 - The following deficiencies were found with
plant design and
maintenance:
(1)Open flame Modine gas-fired heater was not provided outside air.
(2)"Blow down" was proformed with the electric lights on and the Modine
heater
shutdown and cold.
(3)Air hoses used during the "blow down" were greater than 15 psi and the
air hoses
were not conductive to eliminate static electric charge.
(4)The floor of the work area was not vacuumed before "blow down" occurred.
(b)Building 2, Department 30 - The following deficiencies were found with
plant design and
maintenance:
(5)Open flame Modine gas-fired heater was not provided outside air.
(6)"Blow down" was proformed with the electric lights on and the Modine
heater
shutdown and cold.
(7)Air hoses used during the "blow down" were greater than 15 psi and the
air hoses
were not conductive to eliminate static electric charge.
(8)The floor of the work area was not vacuumed before "blow down" occurred.
"AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD
TO CORRECT THESE HAZARDS IS TO REPLACE THE GAS FIRED HEATER WITH AN
OUTSIDE AIR RECIEVER, CLEAN FLOOR AREA BEFORE BLOWING DOWN AND USE
CONDUCTIVE AIR HOSES WITH REDUCED AIR PRESSURE TO 15 PSI OR LESS.
VERIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

May 29, 2008

Abate by

Sep 30, 2008

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $750 Reduced

Issued

May 29, 2008

Abate by

Sep 30, 2008

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $300 Reduced

Issued

May 29, 2008

Abate by

Jul 31, 2008

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $750 Reduced

Issued

May 29, 2008

Abate by

Feb 28, 2009

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $750 Reduced

Issued

May 29, 2008

Abate by

Sep 30, 2008

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $375 Reduced