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

North Carolina General Statute 95-129(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of North Carolina: 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 fire and explosion hazards due to the lack of equipment to control and/or isolate a dust deflagration: a)production area, enclosed screw conveyors used to transport shredded/ground polyurethane to material storage hoppers did not have equipment to vent and isolate a dust deflagration. b)production area, pneumatic ducting system used to transport processed polyurethane materials through cyclones and from storage hoppers to the weighing hopper and then to the blend tank did not have equipment to isolate a dust deflagration. c)production area, seven cyclone dust separators throughout the production area were located inside the building without equipment to vent and isolate a dust deflagration and also exhausted the air inside the building. Feasible and acceptable methods to correct these hazards is to install explosion protection in accordance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 654, Standard for the Prevention of fire and dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Dust Particulate Solids (2006), paragraphs 7.11.1.1,7.1.4.1, 7.13.1.1.1, and 7.13.1.7.1.