Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002 Hazard: CHEMICAL

Section 5(a)(1) of Public Law 91-596, 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: fire and explosion hazards due to the overheating of rubber product(s) that were the result of processing combustible particulate solids in an inadequately maintained and operated facility. (a)Rouse Polymerics International, Inc., 1000 Rubber Way Road, Vicksburg, Mississippi - Employees were exposed to the hazards of fire and explosion where rubber dust (-80 to -200 mesh particle size) was being overheated during processing and there were no prevention/suppression systems to prevent a dust explosion from occurring inside the work area. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to: apply the explosion prevention technical design requirements of NFPA 654, Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids, and/or NFPA 69, Standard on Explosion Prevention Systems, and/or NFPA 68, Guide for Venting Deflagrations, to systems and facilities and equipment that handle combustible particulate solids based upon consideration of the physical and chemical properties and hazardous characteristics that define the materials being processed.