OSHA Inspection: WOOD FIBERS INC.

Issued

May 2, 2012

Abate by

Jun 21, 2012

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $3,500

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 combustible wood dust deflagration, explosion, or other fire hazards while working at or near wood dust production, transportation, and collection equipment which were not designed to prevent or minimize employee exposure to fires, deflagration, and explosions:    On or about December 1, 2011, employees were exposed to combustible wood dust deflagration, explosion, or other fire hazards:    a)  The ducting downstream of the rotary dryer lacked a means of spark detection and control to prevent fires from occurring within connected process equipment such as the first stage cyclone, the hog/hammermill, the second stage cyclone, and indoor operations.      b)  The ducting downstream of the hog/hammermill and associated transfer fan lacked a means of spark detection and control to prevent fires from occurring within connected process equipment such as the second stage cyclone and indoor operations.    c)  The outdoor bag house lacked a means of (1) explosion protection and (2) deflagration isolation protection to upstream indoor operations.    d)  The ducting downstream of the bag house transfer fan lacked a means of spark detection and control to prevent fires for occurring within the bag house.    e)  The dust collection ducting located above the pellet mills contained nonconductive flexible couplers between metal ducting sections as well as nonconductive, plastic flexible drop-down ducts.  This system lacked a means of bonding and grounding to prevent the accumulation of static electric charge.    f)  The dust collection ducting located above the pellet mills contained nonconductive, plastic flexible drop-down ducts used as floor sweeps.  The floor sweeps lacked a method of preventing foreign metal materials from entering the dust collection system.

Issued

May 2, 2012

Abate by

May 23, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,800

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.219(f)(3):     Sprocket wheels and chains which were seven (7) feet or less above floors or platforms were not enclosed:    On or about 12/01/2011, the employer did not enclose sprocket wheels and chains which were less than seven (7) feet above the working surface:    a)  Multiple sprocket wheels and chains on the Wet Hopper located outside and east of the facility.    b)  Two (2) sets of sprocket wheels and chains on the cleaning conveyor located outside the facility. The conveyor protruded through the facility's north wall.    c)  Sprocket wheels and chain located on the first stage cyclone which employees were exposed to while working on the first stage cyclones platform.    d)  Sprocket wheels and chain located on the screw auger below the second stage cyclone inside the facility which employees were exposed to while working on the platform above the ripening bin.    ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED.