OSHA Inspection: WEDCO

Issued

Nov 8, 1999

Abate by

Nov 12, 1999

Penalty

Initial $2,625 · Current $1,600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  On or
about 09/22/1999,
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.  A
buildup of static electricity, caused by inadequate bonding and grounding
of filter elements and
a subsequent discharge likely triggered an explosion:
Feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct this hazard, among
others, are as
follows:
1- Check all dust processing systems and their metal components for proper
grounding
and bonding.  For instance, ensure that the metal cages of the filter
cartridges in the dust
collector housing are adequately bonded and grounded.
2- Instruct employees in the recognition of potential ignition sources in
dust processing
systems.
3- Install connections between the jet mills and dust collectors which can
withstand dust
explosions.
4- Consider retrofitting baghouse systems of dust collectors with
appropriate fire and
explosion suppression systems if they are used for collecting powders with
low minimum
ignition energies and high accumulation potentials such as powders of
polyethylene
waxes.
References:
(a) NFPA 654, Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions in
the Chemical,
Dye, Pharmaceutical and Plastics Industries.
(b) NFPA 69, Standard for Explosion Prevention Systems
(c) NFPA 77, Standard for Static Electricity
(d) Pratt T.H., "Electrostatic Ignitions of Fires and Explosions,"
Burgoyne Incorporated,
Marietta, Georgia 1997, ISBN 0-9659092-0-4.