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 including severe burns to employees, in that employees were exposed to dust explosion, deflagration, or other fire hazards from the dust collection system: Manufacturing Building - In the formulation room and near the "frituras" area, where the dust collectors and pipes were located, employees working in the area were exposed to explosion, deflagration, or fire hazards due the lack of isolation devices, on or about 7/12/11. Among other methods, a feasible abatement method to correct this hazard is to follow the NFPA 654 Standard for The Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particulates Solids, paragraph 7.1.4.1 and 7.1.5.1, which require isolation devices to be provided to prevent deflagration propagation between pieces of equipment connected by ductwork and from air-material separators (dust collectors) upstream to the work area. Isolation devices include but are not limited to chokes, rotary valves, and flame front diverters. In accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19(c), abatement certification is required for this violation (using the CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTION WORKSHEET).