OSHA Inspection: COMPACT INDUSTRIES, INC

Issued

Nov 23, 2012

Abate by

Jan 31, 2015

Penalty

Initial $4,250 · Current $2,125 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1):   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 dust deflagration, explosion, or other fire hazards as a result of working at or near dust collectors, a central vacuum, and associated upstream equipment, used to collect combustible organic beverage powders, which were not adequately designed to prevent or minimize employee exposure in the event of an explosion, deflagration, or other uncontrolled fire event:        a. The Schubert media type dust collector was located inside the building and (1) lacked means to isolate a flame front (deflagration) originating within the dust collector from propagating to the upstream blenders, the dust collection drum, and the return air system, (2) lacked means to prevent the transmission of energy from a fire event (i.e. flame, embers, smoke), within the dust collector, back through the clean side air ducting which exhausted into the room, (3) contained explosion venting with discharge locations within the building, (4) the design basis for the explosion vents is undocumented and lacks assurance that design parameters of the explosion venting system is reflective of the properties of the dust being handled, and (5) lacked means of fire protection.       b. The two Camcorp media type dust collectors were located inside the building and (1) lacked means of explosion protection, (2) lacked means to isolate a flame front (deflagration) originating within the dust collector from propagating to the upstream dump room and production processes, the dust collection drums, and the return air system, (3) lacked means to prevent the transmission of energy from a fire event (i.e. flame, embers, smoke), within the dust collector, back through the clean side air ducting which exhausted into the room, and (4) lacked means of fire protection.        c. The Ross-Cook central vacuum dust collector was located inside the building and (1) lacked means of explosion protection, (2) lacked means to isolate a flame front (deflagration) originating within the dust collector from propagating to the upstream locations, the dust collection drum, and the return air system, (3) lacked means to prevent the transmission of energy from a fire event (i.e. flame, embers, smoke), within the dust collector, back through the clean side air ducting which exhausted into the room, and (4) lacked means of fire protection.      Abatement certification is required of this item in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1903.19(c).