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

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: 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 the hazards of explosion and fire due to ignition of flammable vapors within the Extraction Machines during their operation on and before June 20, 2000: Among other methods. one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is the use of inerting gas and appropriate sensors within the extraction machine to assure that oxygen levels never become sufficient to support fire and explosion. Other actions may be taken as well to limit the impact of or prevent fire and explosion such as: a.limiting potential ignition sources within the machines by detection and removal of tramp metal objects by installation and use of metal detection and/or extraction equipment such as an X-ray unit and/or a magnet unit to detect and remove tramp metal, b.ventilation sufficient to maintain flammable vapors within the machine to less than the Lower Explosive Limit for the vapors and sensors to monitor and assure levels are kept below that level, c.detection of leaks of flammable vapor from the extraction machines by periodic use of leak detection equipment, and, d.isolation of the load drum and extraction system from operator exposure by locating them in a fortified room equipped with explosion venting capability and positioning the operator controls outside of the room. e.installation of explosion suppression systems within the machines to mitigate any internal explosions or fires.