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 to employees in that employees were exposed to severe burns from potential dust explosion, deflagration and fire hazards caused by the improper design and maintenance of dust collection systems and building design: a.)Specialty Area - Four Murphy-Rodgers enclosureless dust collection systems with air handling capabilities of 6210 CFM were located inside the building, on or about July 28, 2009. b.)Specialty Area - A system to prevent metal from entering the dust collection system was not installed on the Murphy-Rodgers enclosureless dust collection system, on or about July 28, 2009. c.)Shop/Specialty Area - The dust collection system air flow was not sufficient enough to capture explosive wood dust as evidenced by the large amount of wood dust around woodworking machinery and general areas, on or about July 28, 2009. d.)Specialty Area - The ductwork carrying explosive wood dust was not vented to the outside or to another safe area, on or about July 28, 2009. e.)Production Building - The building that housed 4 Murphy-Rodgers enclosureless dust collection systems with air handling capabilities of 6210 CFM was not provided with blow out panels or other type of deflagration venting, on or about July 28, 2009. AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE METHOD TO CORRECT THESE HAZARDS IS TO FOLLOW THE REQUIREMENTS IN NFPA 664, STANDARD FOR THE PREVENTION OF FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS IN WOOD PROCESSING AND WOODWORKING FACILITIES WHICH INCLUDES PROVIDING A MAGNET OR OTHER TYPE OF DEVICE TO REMOVE TRAMP METAL PRIOR TO IT ENTERING THE AIR STREAM, BALANCE THE SYSTEM AND ENSURE THAT CAPTURE VELOCITIES ARE SUFFICIENT TO COLLECT ALL OF THE DUST GENERATED, PROVIDE DEFLAGRATION PANELS ON THE DUCTWORK THAT VENT TO THE OUTSIDE OR ANOTHER SAFE AREA, MOVE THE ENCLOSURELESS DUST COLLECTION SYSTEMS WHICH HAVE AN AIR HANDLING CAPACITY OVER 5000 CFM OUT OF THE BUILDING AND PROVIDE DEFLAGRATION PANELS OR VENTS ON THE OUTSIDE WALL OF THE BUILDING.ION