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

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occuppational 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 burn and explosion hazards while working in the electrostatic Flocking Area where combustible dust was in suspension in the air under normal operating conditions in quantities sufficient to produce explosive or ignitable mixtures: Among other methods, a feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is the following: 1) Employee training in General Safety and Precautions which such as: a) Recognition and preventative measurers for the hazards related to dust accumulations and common ignition sources, such as smoking. b) Cleaning procedures, hot work procedures, preventative maintenance lock-out/tag-out procedures, and proper fire-fighting procedures. 2) Development of a written housekeeping program that establishes the frequency and methods determined best to reduce accumulations of flock on ledges, floors, equipment and other exposed surfaces. (Prohibit the use of brooms and shovels. Use of compressed air to blow dust shall only be permitted when all machinery that presents an ignition source is shut down and all other known potential sources are moved or controlled. Any vacuum cleaning equipment used must be approved for use in a class II hazardous location). 3) Development of regularly scheduled preventative maintenance inspections of least: a) Mechanical and safety control equipment and dust collection equipment. b) Fire protection equipment in the area (this should be checked regularly and an adequate supply should be maintained.) c) Dust collection equipment in order to prevent back-up and possible discharge of flock. d) Electrostatic unit with attention to electrical terminals, electrodes and insulators. 4) Automatic shut down of flock in the event of a fire. 5) Interlock positive electrode grid to shut down flock in event that grid falling or provide a control apparatus that would automatically shut off the electrostatic unit if the minimus distances are violated. 6) Establish and enforcing a no smoking policy.