OSHA Inspection: SUPERIOR ADSORBENTS INC

Issued

Oct 1, 2010

Abate by

Jul 15, 2011

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $750

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:
A.) Superior Adsorbents, Inc., Production Areas - Employees were
potentially exposed to
dust explosion hazards and severe burn injuries due to the location of the
dust collector:
1.) Air-material separators (e.g. dust collection systems) were located
inside the building and
were not protected by explosion protection systems and isolation devices.
ABATEMENT NOTE:
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means to correct the
conditions noted in
Instance A.) include but are not limited to:
Complying with applicable requirements noted in NFPA 654 Standard for the
Prevention
of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and
Handling of
Combustible Particulate Solids including, but not limited to, chapter /
section 7.13 Air-
Material Separators.
B.) Superior Adsorbents, Inc., Production Areas - Employees were
potentially exposed to
dust explosion hazards and severe burn injuries due to a lack of explosion
protection for size
reduction equipment:
1.) The Company's Pulverizer / Grinder was located inside of the building
and did not have
explosion protection incorporated into the design.
ABATEMENT NOTE:
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means to correct the
conditions noted in
Instance B.) include but are not limited to:
Complying with applicable requirements noted in NFPA 654 Standard for the
Prevention
of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and
Handling of
Combustible Particulate Solids including, but not limited to, chapter /
section 7.1.2
Explosion Protection for Equipment.
C.) Superior Adsorbents, Inc., Production Areas - Employees were
potentially exposed to
dust explosion hazards and severe burn injuries due to a lack of
maintenance:
1.) The Company did not develop an inspection, testing, and maintenance
program to ensure
that the process equipment was maintained in a manner that would prevent
dust explosion
hazards and the hazards associated with the propagation of deflagrations,
explosions, and
flame fronts through equipment and machinery.ABATEMENT NOTE:
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means to correct the
conditions noted in
Instance C.) include but are not limited to:
Complying with applicable requirements noted in NFPA 654 Standard for the
Prevention
of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and
Handling of
Combustible Particulate Solids including, but not limited to, chapter /
section 12.1 through
12.2 Inspection and Maintenance.