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

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 from combustible dust produced in the mulch production process. The employer did not have sufficient equipment, facilities and procedures to prevent, suppress and prevent the spread of fires caused by the combustion of dust, including: a)line #1 mulch production area - the mulch process equipment (material handling, dust collection system) did not contain explosion protection, such as but not limited to, deflagration venting, suppression systems, isolation devices, and pressure relief systems. b)line #1 mulch production area - the mulch process area and building did not contain fire walls, fire partitions, and were not designed with damage-limiting construction including deflagration venting or explosion relief. c)line #1 mulch production area - the employer did not develop an inspection, testing and maintenance program to control and minimize hazards associated with combustible dust , such as but not limited to: fire and explosion protection and prevention, material handling equipment, dust collection equipment, housekeeping, potential ignition sources, electrical, process changes, and lubrication of bearings. NOTE: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to abate this hazard 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, 2006 edition." including: 1.Install deflagration isolation system, pressure relief system, and/or suppression on the mulch production system (from the dust collector, piping, and hopper). 2.Install pressure relief system so that deflagration venting is routed to a safe location. 3.Follow procedures in the Flamex Spark Detector System manual in regard to inspection, testing, and maintenance of the spark detection suppression system.