OSHA Inspection: STOUGHTON TRAILERS, LLC

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Abate by

Mar 12, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $3,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances W103

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 wood dust deflagration, explosion, and/or other fire hazards while working at or near an indoor fabric filter media-type dust collection system that was not adequately designed and located to prevent or minimize employee exposure in the event of an internal deflagration or other fire event:  On or about October 2, 2014,  the indoor Coral filter media-type dust collection system (collector and ducting) servicing the Schelling saw generating wood dust presented the following recognized hazards:  a) The Coral dust collector was located indoors and lacked a means of explosion protection.  b) The Coral dust collector was located indoors and lacked a means of deflagration propagation protection (isolation) for        the upstream Schelling saw area and the units wood dust discharge (hopper) area.  c) The Coral dust collector was located indoors and recycled air directly back into the building.  d) A blower device handling combustible wood dust was located upstream of the dust collector without        downstream protection systems.  Among other methods, feasible methods to correct this hazard would be to follow the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 664 Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Explosions in Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities, 2012 ed.) - Sections 8.2.2.4.2, 8.2.2.5.1.4, 8.2.2.6, and 8.2.4.1   Specifically:  For a) Relocate the dust collector outdoors and install explosion venting exhausting to a safe location in accordance with NFPA 68, Standard on Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting OR- Provide the indoor dust collector with a recognized method of explosion protection such as deflagration venting through relief ducting discharging to a safe location in accordance with NFPA 68, deflagration venting having listed flame-quenching devices in accordance with NFPA 68, or chemical deflagration suppression in accordance with NFPA 69, Standard on Explosion Prevention Systems.   For b) Install a listed method of deflagration isolation (active or passive) in accordance with NFPA 69, Standard on Explosion Prevention Systems between the dust collector and the upstream process and at the material discharge of the units hopper.  Examples for upstream isolation protection may include a passive explosion flap valve isolation device or an active chemical suppression isolation system.  Examples for protecting the area beneath the unit include a listed material choke (rotary valve) designed for the purpose of deflagration isolation.    For c) For an indoor dust collector, duct the exhausted air to a safe outdoor location away from any air-inlets.  For an outdoor dust collector, prohibit the return of exhausted air back into the building unless additional provisions are made in accordance with NFPA 664 to materially reduce the hazards of transmitting the effects of a wood dust fire (smoke, flame, embers, combustion gases) and a wood dust deflagration (flame front, pressure wave, unburned dust cloud) back into the building.  See sections 8.2.2.6 and 8.2.4 for more details.  For d) Locate the fan or blower on the clean air side of the dust collector  OR  if maintaining the upstream location of the fan or blower, ensure that the fan is designed and approved for handling combustible particulates and the duct downstream of the fan is equipped with a listed spark detection and extinguishing/abort gate system.

Issued

Jan 21, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $3,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.212(a)(1): One or more methods of machine guarding was not provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards such as those created by point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips and sparks:    On or about October 1, 2014, the Schelling saw area was not guarded to prevent employees from working in a pinch point area, between the saw and drill air tables.  An employee was injured when a stack of plywood from the saw pinned the employee against the drill air table.