Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: DUST&FUMES

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 in that employees were exposed to the hazard of potential fire and explosion because methods were not utilized to ensure proper collection and prevent ignition of combustible dusts during manufacturing,handling and processing operations: a) Blending Department ; During material loading and unloading operations on the 10K, 8K, 4K and 2K dual cone conical blenders , continuous local exhaust ventilation was not ensured at blender openings to minimize the escape of explosive and combustible dusts to the atmosphere and prevent contact with an ignition source. Abatement note: potential ignition sources include static sparks and ordinary electrical equipment in the general vicinity of the blender platforms and unloading areas which can be minimized by provision of a properly designed, constructed and installed local exhaust ventilation system. b) Blending department; where all components were not conductive, measures were not taken to eliminate or reduce the electrostatic ignition potential posed by the polyethylene bags used to contain the ingredients from weighing operations which are later emptied into the blender loading openings. Similarly, measures were not taken to eliminate electrostatic ignition potential on the polyethylene liners that are used in bulk containers in which blended resins are loaded from the blender. Abatement note: Static ignition potential may be minimized by selection of containers or liners that do not accumulate strong static charges and by implementing proper static electricity controls such as those recommended by the National Electric Code (NEC) and National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA)guidelines. c) Blending Department: 10K&8K Blender Platform; The Hammond Duskolector Model 855B Dust Collector used for the collection of dusts generated during loading and unloading operations on the 8K and 10K dual cone blenders is not designed or constructed with the necessary safeguards for collection of combustible particulate solids. Abatement note: potential hazards posed by the use of the Duskolector collector include but are not limited to fire and explosion injuries to employees due to the installation of the collector in an area regularly frequented by employees, lack of deflagration venting, and lack of explosion suppression devices. d) Blending department: The AAF ARRESTALL dust collector used for the collection of dusts generated during loading and unloading operations from the 2K and 4 K dual cone Blenders is not designed or constructed with the necessary safeguards for the collection of combustible particulate solids. e) Color Room: The AAF ARRESTALL dust collector used for the collection of dusts generated during manual weighing operations involving combustible particulate solids used in plastic resinproduction operations is not designed or constructed with the necessary safeguards for the collection of combustible particulate solids. Abatement note: potential hazards posed by the use of the AAF ARRESTALL dust collectors include but are not limited to fire and explosion injuries to employees due to installation of the collector in an area frequented by employees, lack of deflagration venting, and lack of explosion suppression devices. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct these hazards is to comply with the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 654 Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids, but not limited to ensuring use of dust collection equipment that is located outside and equipped with appropriate deflagration venting and other safeguards to protect employees in the event of an explosion.