Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard:

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer does not furnish employment and a place of employment which is free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees are exposed to the hazard of potential fire and explosion hazards of Class II explosive wood dust: Shavings room and bagging room, on or prior to 1/13/16: (a) Conveyors and related equipment in the shavings and bagging rooms were not designed, installed, and operated to avoid excessive heat buildup from hot bearings. (NFPA 664  2012, section 8.2.3, Mechanical Conveying Systems) On or about 12/22/15, a significant fire occurred in the shavings room when a hot bearing on the head pulley of a conveyor ignited accumulated wood dust and surrounding wood enclosure(s) installed for dust control. (b) An inspection, testing, and maintenance program was not established to ensure that fire and explosion protection systems are inspected and maintained in operable condition (NFPA 664  2012, Section 10.2 Inspection and Maintenance). On 1/13/16, the Flamex spark and ember detection system associated with the rotary kiln was inoperable due to faulty wiring. The Flamex had been inoperable for a period of several weeks prior to the date of the inspection. On 2/23/16, the Flamex had been inoperable for about a week due to damage from a failed sprinkler escutcheon. (c) A written impairment procedure was not followed when fire protection or suppression systems or controls, including but not limited to the Flamex system and sprinkler/standpipe system, were inoperable (NFPA 664  2012, section 10.9 Impairments of Fire Protection and Explosion Prevention Systems.). On 1/13/16 and 2/23/16, a written impairment procedure was not being followed while the Flamex system was inoperable.