OSHA Inspection: GREAT NORTHERN CABINETRY, INC.

Issued

Feb 17, 2009

Abate by

Nov 15, 2010

Penalty

Initial $875 · Current $525 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 serious burns from potential dust deflagration, explosion,
or other fire hazards
as the result of the improper design and maintenance of the dust
collection systems:
(a)Great Northern Cabinetry, Inc. in Rib Lake, WI:  The following
deficiencies
were found with the large Torit and smaller Carter Day bag house dust
collectors
and associated systems used for wood dusts:
(1)A means of tramp metal protection was not provided to keep any
unwanted metal fragments out of the air-material separators associated
with the wood dust conveying process.
(2)A means of static charge dissipation, such as bonding or grounding, was
not provided between the air-material separators and pieces of equipment
which were connected by flexible non-metallic duct work on machinery
such as, but not limited to, the DM1 door miter machine, DM5 CNC
machine, DM6 door machine, SM7 shaper, GT7 profiler/sander, M3
shaper, M4 shaper, US1 profiler/sander, WW6 profiler/sander, T55 tilting
arbor saw, TS3 table saw, CS4 table saw, DT45 dovetail router, OP6
wide belt sanding machine, EB9 edge bander, B8 band saw, M5 shaper,
M6 shaper, frame sanding table, DS1 dado saw, TS1 table saw, TK2
miter machine, TS2 table saw, PS3 panel saw, CNC router 1, and CNC
router 2.
(3)Use of flexible non-metallic duct work exceeded the minimum required
for machinery operation on equipment, such as but not limited to, the
DM1 door miter machine, DM5 CNC machine, DM6 door machine, SM7
shaper, GT7 profiler/sander, M3 shaper, M4 shaper, US1 profiler/sander,
WW6 profiler/sander, T55 tilting arbor saw, TS3 table saw, CS4 table
saw, DT45 dovetail router, OP6 wide belt sanding machine, B8 band saw,
M5 shaper, M6 shaper, frame sanding table, DS1 dado saw, TS1 table
saw, TK2 miter machine, TS2 table saw, and PS3 panel saw.
(4)A deflagration panel on the outdoor Carter Day bag house dust collector
was blocked by the return air (outlet) duct work exiting the bag house.
(5)A spark detection system with high speed-speed abort gate or
extinguishment capability was not installed downstream of the last material
entry points and upstream of the air-material separators on the Torit bag
house dust collection system where machinery having a history of
producing sparks, including large belt sanders/planers having automatic
feed systems, were used.
(6)Deflagration isolation or suppression systems were not provided for the
inlet (dirty air) sides of the air-material separators.
(7)A high-speed abort gate operating in conjunction with a spark detection
system was not provided on the return air (outlet) sides of each air-
material separator in order to intercept and divert any burning material to
atmosphere before re-entering the facility.
(8)Dynamic changes via the frequent use of dampers were made to the
system without ensuring that the other remaining branches had sufficient
capture and air conveying velocities.  The employer had no method of
determining that minimum duct velocities were being maintained in the
system.
(9)Multiple dampers, gates, and orifice plates provided for the purpose of
attempting to balance airflow in the system were not fastened in place to
prevent inadvertent movement.
(10)A 'blow down' safety program was not implemented where compressed
air was used to clean off elevated surfaces.
(b)Great Northern Cabinetry, Inc. in Rib Lake, WI:  The following
deficiencies
were found with the Reliant model 820 enclosureless dust collection system
associated with the TS6 table saw and the Reliant model 270 enclosureless
dust
collection system associated with the TS4 table saw used for collection of
wood
dusts:
(1)A means of static charge dissipation, such as bonding or grounding, was
not provided between the air material separators and pieces of equipment
which were connected by flexible non-metallic duct work.
(2)Systems were located within 20 feet of means of egress and/or routinely
occupied areas.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE MEANS
OF ABATEMENT WOULD BE TO COMPLY WITH THE GUIDELINES
OUTLINED IN NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (NFPA) 664
"STANDARD FOR THE PREVENTION OF FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS IN
WOOD PROCESSING AND WOODWORKING FACILITIES (2007)
EDITION".
Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item.
Abatement Schedule
STEP 1 -A combination of administrative controls shall be implemented as
an interim
protective measure until feasible engineering and administrative controls
can be
permanently implemented.
STEP 2 -A written detailed plan of abatement shall be submitted to the
Area Director
outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or
administrative
measures to control employee exposures to the hazardous condition as
referenced
in this citation.  This plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for
the
following actions which must be consistent with the abatement dates
required by
this citation:
(1)Evaluation of engineering/administrative control options;
(2)Selection of optimum control methods and completion of design;
(3)Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures;
(4)Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls;
All proposed control measures shall be approved for each particular use by
a
competent certified safety professional, professional engineer, or other
technically
qualified person.
STEP 3 -Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of
feasible
engineering and administrative controls upon verification of their
effectiveness in
achieving compliance.
Date by Which Violation Must be Abated:   STEP - 13/24/09
Date by Which Violation Must be Abated:   STEP - 2   4/14/09
Date by Which Violation Must be Abated:   STEP - 3   5/12/09

Issued

Feb 17, 2009

Abate by

Mar 13, 2009

Penalty

Initial $525 · Current $315 Reduced

Issued

Feb 17, 2009

Abate by

Apr 3, 2009

Penalty

Initial $875 · Current $525 Reduced

Issued

Feb 17, 2009

Abate by

Apr 3, 2009

Issued

Feb 17, 2009

Abate by

Mar 13, 2009

Issued

Feb 17, 2009

Abate by

Mar 13, 2009

Issued

Feb 17, 2009

Abate by

Mar 20, 2009