Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: ELECTRIC

KRS 338.031(1)(a): 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 an employee in that employees were exposed to: a.Employees in the Compounding and Mixing Room at the Continental General Tire plant facility were exposed to the hazard of an explosion or fire resulting from static electricity igniting combustible dust from compounds including but not limited to the 775 and 927 compounds. Feasible and useful methods to abate the hazard include but are not limited to the following: 1. Implement the use of tires on the totes that are capable of dissipating static charges. The addition of a floor coating may be necessary to facilitate the dissipation of static charges through the tires. 2. Provide and ensure the usage of wristlets for the bonding/grounding of the employees to dissipate static charges. 3.Implement a Management of Change (MOC) written program as described in the guidelines of NFPA 654 Chapter 2.8.1 - The Management of Change and ensure that the following issues are addressed prior to any change: a. The technical basis for the proposed change, b. The safety and health implications, c. Whether the change is permanent or temporary, d. Modifications to operating and maintenance procedures, e. Employee training requirements and, f. Authorization requirements for the proposed change. 4.Provide for employee training and awareness to ensure that any bonding cables used made good metal to metal contact to ensure good continuity and to prevent static discharges. 5.Provide floor mats that would dissipate static electrical discharges. 6.Ensure that the insulation for the grounding and bonding cable being used at the 775 Durez compounding workstation was pealed back exposing the copper wire to ensure contact with the bonding clamp to ensure continuity and to prevent static discharge. 7.Follow all of NFPA 77 and 654 for items such as but not limited to suppression systems (flame and spark arresters, electrical classification, inerting, chokes flame front diverters, humidity control, etc.). 8.Eliminate the use of conductive steel rods to break up the clumps in the super sacks and use non-sparking tools and equipment. 9.Eliminate the use of the hard bristle brooms to clean the Compounding Room. 10.Ensure the use of spark arresters in the ventilation system. 11.Ensure the use of blast gates or blast traps in the ventilation system. 12.Establish a continuity check maintenance program. 13.Implement a CFM Maintenance Checklist program and that the dust collection systems are operating within the design parameters (ie, capture velocity, volumetric flows, etc.) 14.Establish a program to determine when the inside of the dust collection system will be examined for signs of rust. 15.Insure that Continuity checks are performed on the bonding/grounding/straps used. 16.Ensure bonding/grounding of the metal scoops to the totes to prevent static charges.