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

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, including severe burns, to employees in that employees were exposed to dust explosions, deflagration, or other fire hazard from improperly designed dust collection equipment that was located inside of the building: Line 9: The Nelmor scrap collection units, conveying ducts, blower and dust collector had not been designed to handle combustible dust and was located inside of the building. Specifically: A.Segregation, separation or detachment was not used to provide employee protection from the explosion hazard created by the scrap collection system. Employees worked in close proximity to the scrap and dust collector. Also, the blue dust collector was not provided with a fire protection system. (NFPA 654, Section 6.2.1 and 7.13.1.2) B.Process equipment in the scrap collection system had not been provided with one or more required methods of explosion protection such as, oxidant concentration, deflagration venting, deflagration pressure containment, deflagration suppression systems, dilution, and/or deflagration venting through a listed/labeled device. (NFPA 654, Section 7.1.2.1) C.Isolation devices were not provided between pieces of equipment in the scrap collection system that were interconnected including the Nelmors, conveying duct, blower and dust collector. (NFPA 654, 7.1.4.1) D.The dust collector was located inside of the building, adjacent to a work area, surrounded by flammable foam board. The exhaust was vented to the general work area. (NFPA 654, Section 7.13.1.1.1) E.Interior surfaces where dust accumulations could occur were not designed or constructed to facilitate cleaning and to minimize combustible dust accumulations. (NFPA 654, Section 6.3.3) F.Regular cleaning frequencies were not established for walls, floors, and horizontal surfaces such as ducts, pipes, hoods, ledges, beams, etc... to minimize dust accumulations within operating areas of the plant. (NFPA 654, Section 8.2.1.2) Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is : A.Review the National Fire Proection Association (NFPA) Standard 654, Standard for the Prevention of Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids. B.Conduct a Process Hazard Anaylsis of the collection process. C.Depending on the placement of the dust collection system either inside of the building or outside of building, properly design the system to address potential fire and explosion hazards in accordance with established guidelines such as NFPA 654. D.Implement a schedule of regular housekeeping in all areas where combustible dust can be generated to prevent the accumulation of combustible dust on building and equipment surfaces. Abatement Note: Relevant portions of NFPA 654 are included for reference for abatement purposes.