OSHA Inspection: AMERICAN MILLING COMPANY, INCORPORATED

Issued

Apr 17, 2012

Abate by

Oct 30, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $1,440 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 the hazards associated with:
a) Woodworking Shop:  Gas-fired heating units with open pilot flames not
listed and/or
approved for use in locations with combustible dust were suspended from
the ceiling throughout
the work area, beneath open ceiling insulation impregnated with fugitive
wood dust, and were
covered with fine wood dust.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this
hazard is to use gas-fired roof top heating units, which remove the open
flame from
the work area and combustible dust, or to use a hot water heating system
where the
heating boiler is away from the work area and its combustible dust.
b) Woodworking Shop:  The Dustkop After Filters and Dustek enclosureless
dust collector that
removed and held combustible dust were located inside, without all the
protective measures that
would mitigate its inside location such as: daily removal of dust,
locating the collector at least
20 feet from any means of egress and separating multiple dust collectors
from each other by at
least 20 feet.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct
these hazards is to meet the fire/deflagration protective criteria set
forth in Chapter
8.2.2.5.1.4 of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 664,
"Standard for
Prevention of Fire and Explosions in Wood Processing and Woodworking
Facilities"
(2012 Edition).
c)  Woodworking Shop:  Dust from woodworking equipment with ignition
hazards
was carried
to dust collectors inside duct work that had no spark detection or fire
suppression systems.  The
absence of spark detection and fire suppression systems meant that in the
event that a fire began
in one duct, the fire could spread to other ducts and/or dust collector
and emerge to injure or
kill employees.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method is to
install
listed spark detection and fire suppression and isolation in accordance
with Chapter
8.2.2.2.2 of the National Fire Protection Association NFPA 664 "Standard
for
Prevention of Fire and Explosions in Wood Processing and Woodworking
Facilities"
(2012 Edition).
d)  Woodworking Shop:  Duct work leading into and out of the Dustkop
cyclone dust collector,
which posed a fire/deflagration hazard, lacked fire/deflagration isolation
devices to prevent a
fire/deflagration in the collector from traveling back into the building
and work areas.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method is to
install
a listed deflagration suppression system or adequate deflagration relief
vents inaccordance with Chapter 8.2.4 of the National Fire Protection
Association NFPA 664
"Standard for Prevention of Fire and Explosions in Wood Processing and
Woodworking Facilities" (2012 Edition).
e) Woodworking Shop:  Workers were exposed to risk of dust collector fire
products because
air from the Dustek enclosureless dust collector was recirculated into the
work area without
protective measures, such as:  the collected dust was not removed at least
daily or more often
to ensure efficient operation; the collector was located adjacent to
another dust collection system;
and the collector was in an area routinely occupied by workers.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this
hazard is to comply with relevant provisions in NFPA 664 Prevention of
Fires and
Explosions in Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities (2012 edition),
such as:
(1)  Chapter 8.2.2.6.4.3 which states that enclosureless dust collectors
must meet the
requirements of Chapter 8.2.2.5.1.4(7) (daily removal of dust, locating
the collector
at least 20 feet from any means of egress, and separating multiple dust
collectors
from each other by at least 20 feet).
8.2.2.5.1.4 Dust collectors shall be located in accordance with(7) Indoors
for
enclosure less dust collectors meeting all of the following criteria:
(a) The collector is used only for dust pickup from wood processing
machinery (i.e.,
not metal grinders and so forth).
(b) The collector is not used on sanders, molders, or abrasive planers
having
mechanical material feeds through the machine.
(c) Each collector has a maximum air-handling capacity of 2.4 cubic
meters/second
(5000 cfm).
(d) The fan motor is of a totally enclosed, fan-cooled design.
(e) The collected dust is removed daily or more frequently if necessary to
ensure
efficient operation
(f) The collector is located at least 6.1 m (20 ft) from any means or
egress or area
routinely occupied by personnel.
(g) Multiple collectors in the same room are separated from each other by
at least
6.1 m (20 ft).
OR
(2)  Chapter 8.2.2.6.4.1 which states that dust collection systems be
equipped with
listed   spark detection in accordance with relevant sections of National
Fire
Protection Code Association (NFPA) 72 National Fire Alarm Code (2006
Edition)
and listed spark extinguishing system in accordance with NFPA 15, Standard
for
Water Spray Fixed Systems for Fire Protection.

Issued

Apr 17, 2012

Abate by

Oct 30, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $1,440 Reduced

Issued

Apr 17, 2012

Abate by

Oct 30, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,600 · Current $1,740 Reduced

Issued

Apr 17, 2012

Abate by

Oct 30, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $1,440 Reduced

Issued

Apr 17, 2012

Abate by

Jun 1, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $1,440 Reduced

Issued

Apr 17, 2012

Abate by

Oct 30, 2012