OSHA Inspection: WHITEHALL SPECIALTIES INC.

Issued

Feb 15, 2011

Abate by

Apr 15, 2011

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 causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to:
"AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE
ABATEMENT METHOD              TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS...."
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 the hazards associated with food ingredient dust
explosion, deflagration or other
fire hazards.
a) The Farr dust collector, located outside, did not have means to prevent
a fire/explosion in the
dust collector, from propagating back through the ductwork and into the
building.
b) The ductwork for the Blenders and Mixer, between the metal vacuum and
upper ductwork,
was not  provided with a means of static charge dissipation, such as
bonding and grounding.
c) The dust collection system was not protected with explosion prevention
systems.
Among other methods, some feasible and acceptable methods to abate these
hazards are to
comply with:
1. NFPA 61 (Chapters 5, 6 and 10), including but not limited to:
a) Provide deflagration isolation or suppression systems for the inlet to
the dust collector.
b) Provide bonding and grounding throughout the dust collection system.
c) Provide explosion protection systems to the dust collection system
through containment,
suppression, inerting, or explosion venting.
2. NFPA 654, Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from
the Manufacturing,
Processing, and handling of Combustible Particulate Solids ( (Chapter 7)
including but not
limited to:
a) Assure airflow rates at each hood or other pick-up points can convey
and control the dust.
b) Assure the ductwork is sized properly to provide the air volume and
velocity needed to keep
the interior of ductwork clean and free of dust.