Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002 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 to employees in that employees were exposed to fire and deflagration hazards: On or about August 9, 2007 employees working in the planer mill were exposed to fire and deflagration hazards in the following instances: a) the dust collection system ducts conveying wood material from the planer was not equipped with spark detection, extinguishing system, and abort gates in accordance with NFPA 664, Section 8.2.2.2.2. b) the cyclone separator use for dust collection possessed a deflagration/explosion hazard and was not constructed to withstand the maximum deflagration pressure of the material collected, was not equipped with deflagration relief vents, or a deflagration suppression system in accordance with NFPA 664, Section 8.2.2.5.3. c) the dust collection system was not designed with hoods having a rate of airflow capable of capturing the wood dust and particles to minimize fugitive dust emissions in accordance with NFPA 664, Section 8.2.2.3.1 and 8.2.2.3.3. d) the dust collection system equipped with floor sweeps inlets was not designed to prevent metal and foreign material from entering the wood and dust process equipment in accordance with NFPA 664, Section 7.12.2. Among other methods, the following are feasible and acceptable methods to abate or minimize the hazards: Design and construct the dust collection system and all process equipment in accordance with NFPA 664 Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Explosions in Wood Processing and Woodworking Facilities.