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. Employees were exposed to the hazards associated with dust explosion, deflagration, or other fire hazards. On or about January 25, 2011, at the powder spray booth, the Wheelabrator cartridge dust collector, used to collect combustible powder coating dust, was located indoors and had deflagration venting directed inside the room where employees were, or could have been, working. Among other methods, a feasible abatement method to correct this hazard is to comply with NFPA 654: Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosion from Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids; NFPA 68: Guide for Venting of Deflagrations; and, NFPA 69: Standard on Explosion Prevention Systems, including: a) Relocate the dust collector to the outside of the building: NFPA 654 b) Vent deflagration through ducts to the outside: NFPA 68 c) Install a deflagration suppression system: NFPA 69 d) Deflagration venting through a listed dust retention and flame-arresting device: NFPA 68