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

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 serious burns from potential dust deflagration, explosion, or other fire hazards as the result of the improper design and maintenance of whey dryers, air material separators (bag houses), fixed bulk storage containers (hoppers), a product mixer, and incline screw conveyor bearings: (a)Milk Specialties Company in Whitehall, WI: The following deficiencies were found with whey dryers #1 and #2: (1)The dryers containing whey dust did not incorporate a method of explosion prevention such as but not limited to explosion venting, containment, suppression, or inerting. (b)Milk Specialties Company in Whitehall, WI: The following deficiencies were found with the two air material separator units associated with whey dryers #1 and #2: (1)The air material separators (dust collector bag houses) incorporated into whey dryer systems #1 and #2 were located indoors without an explosion prevention method such as but not limited to containment, suppression, inerting or explosion venting. (c)Milk Specialties Company in Whitehall, WI: The following deficiencies were found with V-hoppers #1 and #2 connected to the dryer systems and the sifting mechanisms: (1)The fixed bulk storage containers (V-hoppers #1 and #2) containing whey dust were located indoors without a method of explosion protection such as but not limited to oxidant concentration reduction, deflagration venting to a safe location, deflagration pressure containment, deflagration suppression, or deflagration venting through a listed dust retention and flame-arresting device. (d)Milk Specialties Company in Whitehall, WI: The following deficiency was found with the whey product mixer located after the sifting process and before the bagging process: (1)The mixer did not incorporate a method of explosion protection such as but not limited to oxidant concentration reduction, deflagration venting to a safe location, deflagration pressure containment, deflagration suppression, or deflagration venting through a listed dust retention and flame-arresting device. (e)Milk Specialties Company in Whitehall, WI: The following deficiency was found with the bearing at the base of the incline screw conveyor auger: (1)The bearing at the base of the incline screw conveyor was collecting whey dust causing combustion in the form of charred materials which were allowed to fall into a collection bucket located underneath the bearing. AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE MEANS OF ABATEMENT WOULD BE TO COMPLY WITH THE GUIDELINES OUTLINED IN NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (NFPA) PUBLICATIONS 61 "STANDARD FOR THE PREVENTION OF FIRES AND DUST EXPLOSIONS IN AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD PROCESSING FACILITIES (2008): SECTIONS 6.3.1, 7.1.1. 7.1.2, 7.1.3, 8.3.4, 10.4.3, AND 11.4.1.1"; 86 "STANDARD FOR OVENS AND FURNACES (2007): SECTION 5.3.1"; AND 654 "STANDARD FOR THE PREVENTION OF FIRE AND DUST EXPLOSIONS FROM THE MANUFACTURING, PROCESSING, AND HANDLING OF COMBUSTIBLE PARTICULATE SOLIDS (2006): SECTIONS 7.1.2, 7.2.3.3, AND 7.17.3". Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item.