OSHA Inspection: AMERICAN WOOD FIBERS

Issued

Apr 6, 2006

Abate by

May 1, 2008

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employmnent 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 the hazard of dust  explosions during wood fiber and wood
flour production and
processing:  :
a)The employer failed to provide adequate explosion venting and explosion
suppression
equipment throughout System 1 equipment (e.g., hammermills, surge tank,
Great
Western sifter, product conveyors and cyclones).  This design practice is
described in
2002 NFPA Standard 664, Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities. During
the
explosion on 10/14/05, the product conveying duct work separated from the
sizing
cyclones and the T2 surge tank split open.
b)The employer failed to provide explosion venting or alternative
explosion suppression
equipment throughout Systems 3 and 4 equipment and processes which are
used in
processing and pulverizing wood fibers and wood flour.  This design
practice is
described in 2002 NFPA Standard 664, Wood Processing and Woodworking
Facilities.
c)The product conveying system built in 2004 transferring wood flour
product from System
1, 3 and 4 to the product storage silos and truck loading station built in
2004 was not
equipped with explosion venting or an alternative explosion suppression
system as
required by the 2002 NFPA Standard 664, Wood Processing and Woodworking
Facilities.and Section 511.1.5 of the International Mechanical Code which
is mandated
by the State of Wisconsin Building Code.
d)The employer failed to eliminate all ignition sources in the area during
blowdown
housekeeping activities in the System 1 building.  Weekly compressed air
cleaning of
System I building generated dust clouds and the employer failed to
eliminate sources of
ignition (e.g., deenergize electrical systems throughout the System 1
building
prior to
blowdown).  This hazard and corresponding  practice for control are
described in  2002
NFPA Standard 664, Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities.
e)The employer failed to ground the housekeeping vacuum hose serving the
Great Western
sifter in process System 1.  The existing housekeeping vacuum hose was
attached to the
metal duct with hose clamps which do not provide permanent grounding and
bonding
which is required to prevent static electric charge generation.  This
design practice is
described in 2002 NFPA Standard 664, Wood Processing and Woodworking
Facilities.
f)The employer failed to ground the housekeeping vacuum hose serving the
surge tank in
process System 1.  The existing housekeeping vacuum hose was attached to
the metal
duct with hose clamps which do not provide permanent grounding and bonding
which is
required to prevent static electric charge generation. This design
practice is
described in 2002 NFPA Standard 664, Wood Processing and Woodworking
Facilities.
g)System 1, including the building facility and size-reduction equipment,
was not isolated
nor otherwise separated by damage-limiting construction. When constructed
in 1984,
System 1 was designed as a component of the main building, with production
and
packaging on the west side and a raw materials warehouse on the east side,
enclosing
System 1 processes.  Isolation of hazardous occupancy buildings design
practice is
described in the 2002 NFPA Standard 664, Wood Processing and Woodworking
Facilities.
Feasible means of abatement include but are not limited to:
*Design, construct, operate and maintain the wood flour process system and
facility
according to the current best practices by established safety, health and
construction
standards including the most recent version of:
"NFPA 664, Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities
"NFPA 69, Explosion Prevention Systems
"NFPA 68, Venting of Deflagrations
"International Mechanical Code, Section 511, Dust Conveying Systems, as
mandated by Wisconsin of Commerce, Chapter  Comm 14.
*Assure appropriate installation and continued maintenance of installed
systems by
company personnel or contractors, including comprehensive training in the
requirements
of the referenced standards.
Abatement Certification and Abatement Documentation required.

Issued

Apr 6, 2006

Abate by

May 1, 2008

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced