OSHA Inspection: SUPERIOR CHAIR COMPANY

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Sep 15, 2000

Penalty

Initial $2,450 · Current $1,715 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:
Employees in the Mill Room were exposed to fire and explosion hazards due
to inadequate
equipment, controls, work practices, and maintenance of the wood
processing, handling, and
disposal equipment.  Employees were exposed to the hazards due to:
a)  Deficient fire partitions between the wood processing area and the
adjacent areas.
Fire partitions (walls) had openings that were not protected by fire doors
and explosion
venting.  NFPA 664 2-2.3 and 2-3.1;
b)  In the Mill Room and the Dust Hopper Area employees were exposed to
fire and
explosion hazards due to the lack of explosion venting or an explosion
suppression
system.  NFPA 664 3-1.2;
c)  In the Mill Room and the Wet Room employees were exposed to fire and
explosion
hazards due to large quantities of finely divided wood dust in and on
equipment, motors,
surfaces, and floors and the employer did not perform housekeeping at
sufficient intervals
to control the accumulation of the wood dust.  NFPA 664 4-1.1;
d)  Employees in the Mill Room and the Wet Room were exposed to fire and
explosion
hazards due to the dust collector that was located in the Wet Room that
was not equipped
with explosion venting or an explosion suppression system.  NFPA 664 8-2.2;
e)  In the Mill Room employees were exposed to fire and explosion hazards
due to the
lack of dust collection on the Radial Saws, Band Saws, Chop Saws, the Bell
Machine,
Cross Cut Saws, and the Notcher.  NFPA 664 8-2.3;
f)  In the Mill Room employees were exposed to fire and explosion hazards
due to the
fact that the employer did not ensure that the rate of ventilation was
sufficient to control
or capture the wood dust and cause them to be carried to the dust
collector.  NFPA 664
8-2.4.3;
g)  In the Wet Room the dust bin was not constructed to be dust-tight, did
not have
chokes to prevent explosion propagation, and was not equipped with
explosion relief.
NFPA 664 8-3.6;
h)  In the Mill Room filtered air was recirculated from the collection
system into the
work area and system was not fitted with spark detectors, abort dampers,
or other flame
diverter actuated by a spark detector and suppression system.  NFPA 664
8-4;
i)  Employees in the Mill Room were exposed to fire and explosion hazards
due to the
fact that the chipper/pulverizer was located in the same room.  NFPA 664
10-2.1;
j)  Employees in the Mill Room were exposed to fire and explosion hazards
due to the
lack of chocks, rotary valves, or explosion suppression systems to prevent
flame
propagation through the conveying system.  NFPA 664 10-3;
k)  Employees in the Mill Room were exposed to fire and explosion hazards
due to the
lack of magnetic separators installed ahead of the chipper/pulverizer to
prevent metal
from entering the machine.  NFPA 664 10-4.3; and,
l)  Employees int he Mill Room and the Wet Room were exposed to fire and
explosion
hazards due to the enclosures, hoods, ducts, and bins were not constructed
to be
dusttight.  NFPA 664 10-5.
Among other methods, a feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct
this hazard is:
1.  Install, utilize, and maintain a dust collection system designed in
accordance with
NFPA 664 for protection against fire and explosion; or,
2.  Update the existing system to be in accordance with NFPA 664.
Disclaimers:
a.  The employer is not limited to the abatement methods suggested by OSHA;
b.  The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all
cases; and,
c.  The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an
effective abatement
method.

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Sep 15, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,400 · Current $980 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:
Employees working in the Wet Room were exposed to being struck by falling
material from the
roof that was in poor repair and falling onto the floor below.  Large
holes were present and
decking, tar, gravel, and other debris had fallen onto the floor and were
hanging from the roof
in other areas of the Wet Room.
Among other methods, a feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct
the hazard is:
1.  Repair the roof to a structurally sound condition;
2.  Repair a portion of the Wet Room roof and eliminate exposure outside
of the
"repaired area";
3.  Eliminate the employee exposure to Wet Room by discontinuing the use
of the area;
and,
4.  Remove the roof of the Wet Room.
Disclaimers:
a.  The employer is not limited to the abatement methods suggested by OSHA;
b.  The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all
cases; and,
c.  The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an
effective abatement
method.

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Aug 10, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,400 · Current $980 Reduced

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Aug 10, 2000

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Aug 17, 2000

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Nov 1, 2000

Penalty

Initial $2,450 · Current $1,715 Reduced

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Nov 1, 2000

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Aug 24, 2000

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Nov 1, 2000

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Sep 15, 2000

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Aug 17, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,400 · Current $980 Reduced

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Aug 17, 2000

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Aug 17, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,400 · Current $980 Reduced

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Aug 17, 2000

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Aug 17, 2000

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Sep 15, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $735 Reduced

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Sep 15, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $735 Reduced

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Aug 24, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,400 · Current $980 Reduced

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Aug 24, 2000

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Aug 24, 2000

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Aug 24, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $735 Reduced

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Aug 24, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,400 · Current $980 Reduced

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Aug 24, 2000

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,450 Reduced

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Sep 1, 2000

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,450 Reduced

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Aug 10, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $735 Reduced

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Aug 10, 2000

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Aug 10, 2000

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Aug 10, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $735 Reduced

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Sep 15, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,050

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Sep 1, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $735 Reduced

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Sep 1, 2000

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Sep 1, 2000

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Sep 1, 2000

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Sep 1, 2000

Issued

Jul 31, 2000

Abate by

Aug 17, 2000