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

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 dust explosion, deflagration, and fire hazards caused by the improper design and maintenance of the pellet making process collection system and equipment: a)In the Facility, on or about March 12, 2012 - PVC Piping was used as ductwork to collect and move combustible wood dust fines collected during the pellet making process. b)In the Production Area, on or about March 12, 2012 - The Wheelabrator Baghouse was located inside the building. c)In the Facility, on or about March 12, 2012 - The Triple Pass Rotary Dryer did not have an automatic spark detection and extinguishing systems installed between the dryer drum and downstream material-handling equipment including, but not limited to, a Clean Gas System (CGS) 6-pack bagless cyclone. d)In the Facility, on or about March 12, 2012 - The Rotary Feeder, W.M. Meyer & Sons #430K-167, was not designed, installed, and operated to maintain alignment and lubrication to avoid excessive heat build-up from friction between the chain and chain housing in an area where fugitive dust was present in the air and accumulating on the equipment. e)In the Facility, on or about March 12, 2012 - The interior of the Triple Pass Rotary Dryer was not regularly inspected and cleaned to keep combustible deposits to a minimum. AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO CORRECT THESE HAZARDS IS TO COMPLY WITH NATIONAL FIRE AND PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (NFPA) 664, STANDARDS FOR THE PREVENTION OF FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS IN WOOD PROCESSING AND WOODWORKING FACILITIES (2007) INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: *INSTALL A DUCT SYSTEM THAT IS METALLIC AS LISTED IN CHAPTER 8, PARAGRAPH 8.2.2.2 OF NFPA 664 *RELOCATE THE BAGHOUSE TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING, OR DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT POLICIES THAT MEET THE PROTECTION, VENTING AND SIZE REQUIREMENTS LISTED IN CHAPTER 8, PARAGRAPH 8.2.2.5.1.4 OF NFPA 664 *INSTALL AUTOMATIC SPARK DETECTION AND EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM BETWEEN THE DRYER DRUM AND DOWNSTREAM THAT MEET THE PROTECTION LISTED IN CHAPTER 8, PARAGRAPH 8.6.2.1 OF NFPA 664 *TIGHTEN AND MAINTAIN THE ALIGNMENT OF CHAIN AND CHAIN HOUSING ON MECHANICAL CONVEYING ROTARY FEEDER(#430K-167) TO REDUCE EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILDUP FROM FRICTION, AND HOT BEARINGS AS LISTED IN CHAPTER 8, PARAGRAPH 8.2.3.1.1 OF NFPA 664 *REGULARLY INSPECT AND CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE TRIPLE PASS ROTARY DRYER TO KEEP COMBUSTIBLE DEPOSITS TO A MINIMUM AS LISTED IN CHAPTER 8, PARAGRAPH 8.6.2.3 OF NFPA 664.