OSHA Inspection: BLOMMER CHOCOLATE COMPANY

Issued

Jun 3, 2009

Abate by

Jan 2, 2010

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $3,500 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 likely to cause death or serious physical harm in that employees
were exposed to
the hazard of potential fire and explosion, including, serious physical
harm, severe burns,
blunt force trauma and possibly death from the improper design and
maintenance of the black
and natural bagging processes:
Fourth floor dust collector room and third floor black and natural cocoa
packaging and
weighing room - On or about January 4, 2009, employees were not adequately
protected
against fire and explosion hazards in that:
(a) 4th floor-dust collector room
(1) Three dust collectors greater than eight (8) cubic feet each were
located inside the
building.  The bag houses were provided with an explosion venting system
or
quenching
system which was not vented to a safe location away from occupied areas.
The explosion
venting system was designed in such a manner, that hot gases would be
released into the
bagging area in the third floor bagging room where employees were
routinely present.
(2) The black cocoa holding tank was not provided with explosion
prevention or
protected by containment, suppression, inerting or explosion venting.
(b) 3rd floor- black cocoa and natural cocoa hammer mills and packaging
and weighing
room-
(1) Three hammer mills, three packaging and weighing systems, including a
hopper
and bagger, were not equipped with explosion prevention or protected by
containment,
suppression, inerting or explosion venting.
(2) The three packaging and weighing systems were not enclosed and
equipped with a
venting system and or dust collector to collect dust during filling and
emptying.
(3) Air displaced during filling and emptying at the packaging and
weighing systems
which was discharged into the building was cleaned with a filter that was
not 99.9efficient
at 10 microns.
(c) 4th floor dust collector room; 3rd floor black and natural cocoa
packaging and weighing
room:
(1) The black cocoa holding tank, dust collectors, hammer mills, packaging
and
weighing systems, all interconnected with duct work, including both
pneumatic systems and
screw conveyors, were used to transfer combustible dust and were not
equipped with
isolation methods which would prevent the propagation between pieces of
equipment
connected by ductwork.
(2) The black cocoa holding tank, dust collectors, hammer mills, packaging
and
weighing systems, all interconnected with duct work, including both
pneumatic systems and
screw conveyors, were not equipped with bonding and grounding methods
which had been
inspected, maintained and proven effective.
(3) The black cocoa holding tank, dust collectors, hammer mills, packaging
and
weighing systems, all interconnected with duct work, were not designed to
be dust tight and
were not provided with the means to control combustible dust.
ABATEMENT NOTE::  Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable
abatement
method to correct these hazards is to comply with National Fire Protection
Agency (NFPA)
61 "Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions in
Agricultural and Food
Processing Facilities" (2008) edition and NFPA 69 "Standard on Explosion
Prevent
Systems"
2008 edition; including but not limited to:
a) Relocate dust collectors outdoors and/or relocate quenching system to
release to a safe
unoccupied location.
b) Install explosion prevention and/or protection for all holding tanks,
hammer mills, packing
and weighing systems which would include containment, suppression,
inerting or explosion
venting.
c) Install isolation methods which would prevent the propagation between
pieces of
equipment connected by ductwork.
d) Ensure that equipment is equipped with bonding and grounding systems
which are
inspected, maintained and proven effective.
e) Ensure that all electrical equipment is listed for use in a Class II,
Group G, Division 1 or
2 area.
NOTE:  29 CFR 1903.19 REQUIRES THAT YOU PROVIDE CERTIFICATION AND
DOCUMENTATION OF ABATEMENT FOR THIS ITEM.

Issued

Jun 3, 2009

Abate by

Jan 2, 2010

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $3,500 Reduced