OSHA Inspection: GILSTER MARY LEE

Issued

Oct 5, 2009

Abate by

Jun 15, 2010

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,000 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
production processes involving cocoa powder, sugar and other dusts:
Employees were not adequately protected against fire and explosion hazard
in that:
Production areas:  Can line/mixer room #1, mixer room# 2, mixer room #3,
cloud line
(packaging line), syrup line, and dryer room:
(1) Seven dust collectors greater than 8 cubic feet each were located
inside the
building.  The dust collectors lacked recognized fire/explosion controls
(e.g. containment,
suppression, inerting, venting, etc.) required for safe operation.
(2) Equipment connected via ductwork including, but not limited to, dust
collectors,
instantizer, hoppers, bins, silos, bucket elevators, screw augers,
pneumatic conveying
systems and a belt conveyor were not equipped with isolation methods to
prevent propagation
of an explosion.
(3) Lack of an ignition control program.
(4) Packaging and weighing systems were not all equipped with venting
systems or air
aspiration devices to collect the dust emitted by rapid air displacement
during filling and
emptying.
(5) Lack of established procedures or an automatic sequence to shut down
related to
machinery if the dust collection system shuts down during operations.
(6) Combustible dust which leaked from various equipment was not
eliminated
or
removed concurrent with operations.
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
Prevention
Systems" 2008 Edition; including but not limited to:
a)Relocate dust collectors outdoors and/or safely vent to an unoccupied
location.
b)Install explosion prevention and/or protection for all dust collectors,
instantizer, hoppers,
bins, silos, bucket elevators, screw augers, pneumatic conveying systems,
and belt
conveyors.
c)Install isolation methods which would prevent the propagation between
pieces of equipmentconnected by ductwork.
d)Ensure that an effective ignition control program was implemented which
addressed
bonding and grounding, hot surfaces, or friction heat from various
transfer methods.
e)Ensure that all electrical equipment is listed for use in a Class II,
Group G, Division I or II
area.
f)Equip packaging and weighing systems with venting systems or air
aspiration to collect dust
emitted by rapid air displacement.
g)Establish procedures which include a sequence to shut down related
equipment if dust
collection system(s) shut down.
h)Eliminate dust leaks from equipment and/or ensure removal of the dust
concurrent with
operations.
NOTE:  29 CFR 1903.19 REQUIRES THAT YOU PROVIDE CERTIFICATION AND
DOCUMENTATION OF ABATEMENT FOR THIS ITEM.

Issued

Oct 5, 2009

Abate by

Nov 23, 2009

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,000 Reduced

Issued

Oct 5, 2009

Abate by

Oct 8, 2009

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,000 Reduced

Issued

Oct 5, 2009

Abate by

Nov 23, 2009

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Issued

Oct 5, 2009

Abate by

Oct 9, 2009

Issued

Oct 5, 2009

Abate by

Oct 16, 2009

Issued

Oct 5, 2009

Abate by

Nov 23, 2009

Issued

Oct 5, 2009

Abate by

Nov 23, 2009

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,000 Reduced

Issued

Oct 5, 2009

Abate by

Nov 23, 2009

Issued

Oct 5, 2009

Abate by

Nov 23, 2009

Issued

Oct 5, 2009

Abate by

Nov 23, 2009

Issued

Oct 5, 2009

Abate by

Nov 23, 2009

Issued

Oct 5, 2009

Abate by

Nov 23, 2009

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Oct 5, 2009

Abate by

Oct 16, 2009

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Oct 5, 2009

Abate by

Jun 15, 2010

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,000 Reduced

Issued

Oct 5, 2009

Abate by

Nov 23, 2009

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Issued

Oct 5, 2009

Abate by

Nov 23, 2009

Issued

Oct 5, 2009

Abate by

Nov 23, 2009