OSHA Inspection: LARSON JUHL

Issued

Feb 18, 2010

Abate by

Apr 22, 2010

Penalty

Initial $1,875 · Current $1,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

5(a)(1): 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, including severe burns, to
employees in that employees were exposed
to dust explosion, deflagration or other hazards from dust collection
equipment located in the building:
a)The cyclone dust collection system used to collect wood dust from saws
was located inside the
building, this dust collector should be located outdoors.
b)The cyclone had no explosion venting or other explosion prevention or
suppression system.
c)No isolation device or system was installed to prevent explosions in the
cyclone from propagating
either upstream to the saw dust collection ducts or downstream to the
enclosureless bag dust collector.
d)The enclosureless bag dust collector was not emptied on a daily basis.
e)The short sections of flexible hoses used to connect the saws to the
metal ductwork were not
grounded.
Among other methods, a feasible abatement method to correct this hazard is:
Relocate the cyclone outside the building, install relief venting or other
explosion suppression or prevention
system on the cyclone.  Install isolation device to prevent propagation of
explosions through ductwork to
employee occupied areas.  Establish a daily schedule of emptying
collection bags and pull wires free from the
flexible hoses and assure that they are securely grounded at each end to
the metal surface.   Installations and
modifications should be done per requirements of the National Fire
Protection Association (NFPA) 664
Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Explosions in Wood Processing and
Woodworking Facilities

Issued

Feb 18, 2010

Abate by

Mar 8, 2010