OSHA Inspection: FOUR SEASONS WOOD PRODUCTS

Issued

Sep 2, 2010

Abate by

Aug 31, 2011

Penalty

Initial $375 · Current $375

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 serious burns from potential dust deflagration, explosion,
or other fire hazards
as the result of improper design and installation of the dust collection
systems:
(a)Building #1; The following deficiencies were found with the MAC dust
collection
system;
(1)A deflagration isolation or suppression system was not provided for the
inlet (dirty) air side of the air-material separator (bag house).
(2)A spark detection system with a high-speed abort gate or extinguishment
was not installed downstream of the last material entry point and upstream
of the air-material separator where a large belt sander with an automatic
feed system was used.
(b)Building #2; The following deficiency was found with the Torit dust
collection
system;
(1)A deflagration isolation or suppression system was not provided for the
inlet (dirty) air side of the air-material separator (bag house).
(c)Rip Saw Building; The following deficiency was found with the cyclone
dust
collection system;
(1)A deflagration isolation or suppression system was not provided for the
inlet (dirty) air side of the air-material separator (cyclone).
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE MEANS OF
ABATEMENT WOULD BE TO COMPLY WITH THE APPLICABLE GUIDELINES
OUTLINED IN NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (NFPA) 664
"STANDARD FOR THE PREVENTION OF FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS IN WOOD
PROCESSING AND WOODWORKING FACILITIES (2007) EDITION", INCLUDING
SECTIONS 8.2.4.1 and 8.2.2.2.2.
Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item.
Abatement
note:
In the event that air from the bag house dust collectors are recycled back
into the facility,
the element of isolation would be required between the outlet (clean) side
of the air-
material separator (bag house) and the buildings to prevent the potential
flame front
propagation resulting from an explosion event originating within the bag
house from
entering the facility.
Abatement Schedule
STEP 1-A combination of administrative controls shall be implemented as an
interim
protective measure until feasible engineering and administrative controls
can be
permanently implemented.
STEP 2-A written, detailed plan of abatement shall be submitted to the
Area Director
outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/or
administrative
measures to control employee exposure to the hazardous condition
referenced in
this citation.  The plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the
following
actions which must be consistent with the abatement dates required by this
citation:
(1)Evaluation of engineering/administrative control options;
(2)Selection of optimum control methods and completion of design;
(3)Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures;
(4)Testing and acceptance or modification/redesign of controls;
All proposed control measures shall be approved for each particular use by
a
competent certified safety professional, professional engineer, or other
technically
qualified person.
STEP 3-Abatement shall have been completed by the implementation of
feasible
engineering and administrative controls upon verification of their
effectiveness in
achieving compliance.
Date by Which Violation Must be Abated: Step 1- / /
Date by Which Violation Must be Abated: Step 2- / /
Date by Which Violation Must be Abated: step 3- / /