OSHA Inspection: INSTANTHEAT WOOD PELLETS, INC.

Issued

Jun 6, 2017

Abate by

Apr 18, 2019

Penalty

Initial $5,070 · Current $4,000 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 wood dust explosions, deflagrations, and fire hazards due to deficient design and/or implementation of preventive and/or protective measures in its wood pellet processing system and related equipment, such as the following:       a)  Rotary Dryer, on or about 12/07/2016:  The Rotary Dryer is operating without an automatic spark detection and extinguishing system located between the dryer drum and the four downstream cyclones.       Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to comply with relevant provisions in NFPA 664 (2017) Prevention of Fires and Explosions in Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities, such as:  Section 8.6.2.2 of 2017 NFPA 664 requires that rotary dryers have automatic spark detection and extinguishing systems located between the dryer drum and downstream material-handling such as cyclones.      Feasible abatement should follow the guidance in the 2017 NFPA 664 Appendix 8.6.2.2. which recommends:               1. Spark detection and extinguishing systems (e.g., water deluge spray) on the main airflow duct between the dryer and the cyclone.               2. Provide a second fail-safe detection point on the duct downstream of the extinguishing system and upstream of the cyclones to:                    a.  Isolate dryer cyclone out-feed;               b.  Stop material in-feed to the dryer;               c.  Initiate water spray deluge in the dryer cyclone.      b)  Millpro Cyclone, on or about 12/07/16:  Cyclones located outside and downstream of the Millpro Cooler were not protected by explosion vents and had no protective system to prevent deflagration.    Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to comply with relevant provisions in NFPA 664 (2017) Prevention of Fires and Explosions in Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities, such as:  Section 8.2.2.6.3 - Dust Collectors with Deflagration Hazards, requires dust collectors with a deflagration hazard having a dirty side volume greater than 8 cubic feet to be designed and constructed in accordance with one of the following:        1.  Protected by a listed deflagration suppression system in accordance with NFPA 68; or      2.  Equipped with deflagration relief vents in accordance with NFPA 69; or      3.  Subject to a risk analysis.

Issued

Jun 6, 2017

Abate by

Jan 12, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,070 · Current $1,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1): All places of employment were not kept clean and orderly:    a)  Process Area, on or about 12/07/2016:  In the process area, wood dust emissions from the pellet mills, cooler and screener was allowed to accumulate to depths and over surface areas in quantities that exposed workers to fire and/or explosion hazards.

Issued

Jun 6, 2017

Abate by

Jan 12, 2018

Penalty

Initial $3,622 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.27(d)(2): 29 CFR 1910.27(d)(2):   Fixed ladder(s), used to ascend to heights exceeding 20 feet and equipped with cages or wells, were not provided with landing platform(s) for each 30 feet of height or fraction thereof:    a)  Silo, on or about 12/7/16:  Fixed ladder approximately 80 feet in height and equipped with a cage, was not provided with a landing platform for each 30 feet of height.    b)  Bucket Elevator, on or about 12/7/16:  Fixed ladder approximately 48 feet in height and equipped with a cage, was not provided with a landing platform for each 30 feet of height.

Issued

Jun 6, 2017

Abate by

Jan 12, 2018

Penalty

Initial $3,622 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.307(b): Documentation for areas designated as hazardous (classified) locations under the Class and Zone system and areas designated under the Class and Division system established after August 13, 2007 was not available to those authorized to design, install, inspect, maintain, or operate electric equipment at the location:    a)  Instantheat Wood Pellet, on or about 12/7/2016:  The Employer was unable to produce electrical classification drawings of the facility which are required to be available to those authorized to design, install, inspect, maintain, or operate electric equipment in hazardous locations.

Issued

Jun 6, 2017

Abate by

Jan 12, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,070 · Current $4,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.307(c): Equipment, wiring methods, and installations of equipment in hazardous (classified) locations were not intrinsically safe, approved for the hazardous (classified) location, or safe for the hazardous (classified) location:    a)  Process Area, on or about 12/07/2016:  The process area is a Class II Division 2 hazardous environment.  The electrical disconnects and receptacles used within 10 feet of equipment such as but not limited to:  Pellet Mills, Cooler, Roto Screener , were not approved for Class II, Division 2 hazardous locations.