In less than a week several OSHA Regional New Releases issued from the OSHA Region 4 main office in Atlanta, Georgia provided details concerning three establishments, proposing over $400,000 in penalties for safety and health violations, which includes combustible dust hazard violations. Each company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
OSHA Region 4 includes the states of Alabama , Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The numerous citations came from the manufacturing sectors of wood, food, and transportation equipment. Of special interest was the national industry NAICS 336360 Motor Vehicle Seating and Interior Trim Manufacturing, which is not included in the OSHA Combustible Dust NEP as an at risk industry, yet the Georgia facility was cited for using high pressure compressed air to clean equipment resulting in clouds of resin dust, and a second repeat violation for exposing employees to high concentrations of airborne particulates.
Reviewing details of OSHA inspections conducted at manufacturing facilities in Region 4 brings to light that OSHA inspectors are conducting combustible dust inspection and enforcement activities at many other facilities with NAICS not listed in Appendix D-1 and D-2 of the OSHA Combustible Dust NEP. This enhanced enforcement activity concerning combustible dust hazards in the workplace illustrates that all manufacturing and non-manufacturing facilities that handle combustible particulate solids that generate combustible dust must proactively address dust hazards with preventative administrative and engineering control measures.
Resources:
NAICS 321113 D-1 NEP Sawmills
NAICS 311312 D-1 NEP Cane Sugar Refining
NAICS 336360 Non-NEP Motor Vehicle Seating and Interior Trim Mfg.
Monday, March 16, 2009
OSHA Region 4 Tough on Combustible Dust
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3 comments:
My company, The Maintenance Men Inc., has been cleaning dust in industrial buildings for 20+ years. We are located in Fayetteville NC & travel in OSHA Region 4 plus states north of that. We have all our own equipment, scissor lifts, compressed air powered vacuums, etc to complete the job. Our employees are trained extensively on the proper way to remove dust from the facility as well as safety. We are fully insured. We work for companies such as Pepsi Co, Coca-Cola, International Paper, Smurfit-Stone, Cormetech, Unilever, Graphics Packaging. & MANY MORE..... (910) 323-0593
I saw this particular motor vehicle plant using compressed air to move dust first hand. Let's just say, I got out of the area quickly. Did you get the pictures John?
IMC is the leader in Combustible Dust cleaning and vacuuming. IMC is certified, has the proper training, and insurance requirements, for Combustible Dust cleaning and remediation.
Jon Barrett
Business Development Specialist
Interior Maintenance Company, Inc.- Providing Green Cleaning Services For Your Facility!
Cell# 267-886-7903 or # 800-220-6547 Fax# 610-626-8860
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Specialists in Federal, Industrial, and Commercial Air Duct Cleaning, High Surface cleaning, Dust Collector Cleaning, Combustible Dust Cleaning, Laboratory Hood and Vent Cleaning, Kitchen Hood Exhaust cleaning, Grease Trap cleaning, Dryer Vent Cleaning, Trash Chute cleaning, Dumpster/Container cleaning, Conveyor Belt Cleaning, Environmental Decontamination, Microbial Remediation, Building Maintenance and Indoor Air Quality Monitoring, Janitorial Cleaning, Dry Vapor Steam Cleaning and Sanitizing, Gum Removal, Graffiti Removal, and Specialty Anti-Microbial painting
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