OSHA Inspection: CARGILL INC.

Issued

Jun 14, 2013

Abate by

Jul 11, 2013

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $0 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 combustible soy bean meal dust fire, deflagration, and explosion hazards while working at or near dust collector-style air material separators and associated equipment which were not adequately designed to prevent or minimize employee exposure in the event of a deflagration:           (a)  Cargill, Inc., 2400 Industrial Drive, Sidney, Ohio:  On or about December 19, 2012, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from combustible soy bean dust deflagration and explosion hazards.  The employees were exposed to hazards from Meal System, Carter Day, model 72RJ84,  dust collector which was an air material separator located inside the building and connected to hammer mills and which lacked the means of (1) fire protection, (2) explosion protection, and (3) deflagration isolation protection for connected process equipment.         (b)  Cargill, Inc., 2400 Industrial Drive, Sidney, Ohio:  On or about December 19, 2012, the employer did not ensure that employees were protected from combustible soy bean dust deflagration and explosion hazards. Four Carter Day, model 72RJ84, air material separators (dust collectors) were located indoors within the indoor processing area.   The air material separators handled combustible soy bean dust and lacked a means of fire, explosion, and deflagration propagation protection. Employees had access to the interior of the collector?s room when the equipment was in operation.  Employees also had access to the block exterior wall when the equipment was in operation.  The room did not have recognized damage-limiting construction to prevent damage and/or collapse of the interior walls in the event of a primary explosion associated with any of the unprotected dust collectors within the room.                Among other methods, a feasible abatement method to correct this hazard is to comply with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards NFPA 61-2013, "Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Dust Explosions in Agricultural and Food Processing Facilities", sections 4.1.2, 6.1, A6.1, 6.2.1, 6.3.1, 10.4.2, 10.4.3; NFPA 654-2013, "Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids", sections 6.4.1, 7.1.4, 7.1.6, 7.1.; and/or Factory Mutual (FM) data sheet 7-75-2012, "Grain Storage and Milling", sections 2.3.1.8 and 2.4.1.1, 2.4.1.2, and 2.4.2.1.       Specifically, for instance (a) locate the dust collector outdoors and protect the collectors with a method of explosion protection such as, but not limited to, deflagration venting to a safe location in accordance with NFPA 68 and provide a method of flame front propagation isolation protection to connected ducting and equipment through the use of a listed isolation devices in accordance with NFPA 69.  If the dust collectors cannot be located outdoors, locate the collectors near an outside wall and provide deflagration venting to the outside in accordance with NFPA 68 and provide flame front propagation isolation protection through the use of listed isolation devices in accordance with NFPA 69. Other explosion protection methods for indoor dust collectors include chemical deflagration suppression systems or deflagration venting through a listed dust retention and flame-arresting device per NFPA 69.  In addition, install a listed fire detection and suppression system.    For instance (b), design and install exterior walls or relief panels capable of venting the effects of an interior equipment explosion to a safe location (outside) in accordance with NFPA 68.  Ensure the room containing the equipment is isolated so that the outside walls of the room capable of having employee exposure can resist the pressures of the vented explosion event and contain any flame fronts, fire, or metal fragmentation resulting from an explosion of the equipment within.  Implement administrative controls to prohibit employee entry into the room during operation of the equipment.  Alternatively, provide the dust collectors with a means of explosion protection as described in instance (a) above.

Issued

Jun 14, 2013

Abate by

Jun 26, 2013

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1):  All places of employment, passageways, storerooms, and service rooms are not kept clean and orderly and in a sanitary condition:         (a)   Cargill, Inc., 2400 Industrial Drive, Sidney, Ohio:  On or about December 19, 2012, the employer did not ensure that the ledges and surrounding area of Flaker K in the preparation area were free of accumulation of dust. Laboratory analysis of the dust indicated that it was explosive, exposing employees to hazards from fire and explosion.