OSHA Inspection: DURAWOOD PRODUCTS, INCORPORATED

Issued

2009-06-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-10-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $875.00 · Current $620.00 Reduced

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 fire and
explosion of wood dust:
(a)Durawood Products, Inc., 18 Industrial Way, Denver, Pennsylvania - The
facility had two dust
collection systems referred to as the large and the small collectors,
which handled Class II
wood dust.  The systems had the following deficiencies, on or about April
3, 2009:  (1)
Neither system had sufficient capture velocity as evidenced by the
excessive accumulations of
wood dust throughout the facility.  (2) Since the original installation of
each system, additional
woodworking equipment with accompanying pick up points had gotten added to
the systems,
and some woodworking equipment had gotten disconnected from the systems
with the
accompanying pick up points blanked off without a redesign and balance of
the
systems.  (3)
The systems did not have fixed dampers which resulted in the opening and
closing of dampers
on less frequently used woodworking equipment during operation of the dust
collection
systems in an effort to try to divert suction to other machines/branches,
creating an imbalance
of air flow and potential insufficient air flow in the main ducts and
potential hazardous
accumulations of wood waste.  (4) No inspection and testing of the spark
detection and
suppression systems on either of the two dust collection systems occurred
as specified in the
manufacturer's (Flamex, Inc.) guidelines.
(b)Durawood Products, Inc., 18 Industrial Way, Denver, Pennsylvania !
Employees used
compressed air ranging from 85 p.s.i. to over 120 p.s.i. to clean Class II
wood dust from
building surfaces and equipment, on or about April 3, 2009.
ABATEMENT NOTE:  Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable
abatement method to
correct this hazard includes following the National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA) 664, Standard
for the Prevention of Fires and Explosions in Wood Processing and
Woodworking Facilities, 2007
Edition, including, but not limited to,
*Design pneumatic conveying systems in accordance with NFPA 654, Standard
for the
Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing,
and Handling of
Combustible Particulate Solids (as referenced in NFPA 664, Chapter 8,
Section 8.2.2.1.1).
As contained in NFPA 654:  do not add branch lines to an existing system
without redesigning
the entire system (NFPA 654, Chapter 7, Section 7.3.2.1); do not
disconnect branch lines nor
blank off unused portions of an existing system without providing a means
to maintain
required and balanced airflow (NFPA 654, Chapter 7, Section 7.3.2.2);
design systems with a
rate of airflow at each hood or pick up point sufficient to convey and
control the material
(NFPA 654, Chapter 7, Section 7.3.2.3); and after balancing the airflow of
a
system, provide
a means of securing manually adjusted airflow control valves, dampers,
gates, or orifice plates
to prevent subsequent adjustment or manipulation (NFPA 654, Chapter 7,
Section 7.8.3.4).
*Develop an inspection, testing, and maintenance program for fire and
explosion protection
systems (NFPA 664, Chapter 10, Section 10.2.1), and document this program
detailing the
equipment inspected, testing performed, test results formulated, and
maintenance or repair
requirements (NFPA 664, Chapter 10, Section 10.2.2).
*Retain records, including, but not limited to, drawings and supporting
documents relating to
initial installation/purchase of equipment, routine equipment inspections,
testing and repair
history, fire and safety inspection or audit reports, service records, and
manufacturers data
sheets (NFPA 664, Chapter 10, Section 10.3.1).
*Use compressed air to blow down surfaces only under the following
conditions:
vacuum prior
to blow down; shut down or remove from the area electrical power and other
sources of
ignition or have electrical installations classified for use in dusty
areas per NFAP 70, NationalElectrical Code; use only low gauge pressure
air of 15 p.s.i.; no open flames, sparks from
spark-producing equipment, or hot surfaces capable of igniting a dust
cloud or layer shall
exist; have all fire protection equipment in service (NFPA 664, Chapter
11, Section 11.2.1.1).
VERIFICATION REQUIREDTION

Issued

2009-06-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-07-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $875.00 · Current $610.00 Reduced

Issued

2009-06-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-07-14 00:00:00

Issued

2009-06-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-07-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $450.00 · Current $315.00 Reduced

Issued

2009-06-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-07-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $700.00 · Current $490.00 Reduced

Issued

2009-06-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-07-31 00:00:00

Issued

2009-06-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-07-31 00:00:00

Issued

2009-06-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-07-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $700.00 · Current $490.00 Reduced

Issued

2009-06-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-07-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $700.00 · Current $490.00 Reduced

Issued

2009-06-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-07-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $875.00 · Current $610.00 Reduced

Issued

2009-06-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-07-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $700.00 · Current $490.00 Reduced

Issued

2009-06-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-07-14 00:00:00

Issued

2009-06-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-06-12 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $450.00 · Current $315.00 Reduced

Issued

2009-06-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-07-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $525.00 · Current $365.00 Reduced

Issued

2009-06-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-10-14 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $875.00 · Current $610.00 Reduced

Issued

2009-06-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-07-14 00:00:00

Issued

2009-06-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-07-14 00:00:00

Issued

2009-06-11 00:00:00

Abate by

2009-07-14 00:00:00