--- title: Combustible Dust Violations For Animal Feed Plant description: OSHA inspected a Texas animal feed production plant after they received a complaint, inspectors found 18 violations during their visit. image: https://info.hughesenv.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/20140815_-_OSHA_square-Apr-26-2021-10-59-00-83-PM.jpg --- - [**](https://www.facebook.com/hughesenvironmental) - [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/hughes-environmental/) - [**](https://twitter.com/cleanductwork) [** (888) 845-3952](tel:%20%20888-845-3952) [![logo-transparent](https://info.hughesenv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-transparent.png?width=200&height=101&name=logo-transparent.png "logo-transparent")](https://hughesenv.com/) [ Request A Quote ](https://info.hughesenv.com/combustible-dust-violations-animal-feed-plant#foot-quote) # Combustible Dust Violations For Animal Feed Plant ** Feb 20, 2015 5:00:22 AM / by [Admin](https://info.hughesenv.com/author/admin) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![Texas Animal Feed Plant Cited By OSHA for Combustible Dust Violations](https://info.hughesenv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/20140815_-_OSHA_square-Apr-26-2021-10-59-00-83-PM.jpg?width=264&height=262&name=20140815_-_OSHA_square-Apr-26-2021-10-59-00-83-PM.jpg)OSHA inspected a Texas animal feed production plant after they received a complaint about the facility, and inspectors found 18 violations during their visit. The total for the penalties proposed by OSHA for these safety violations is over $58,000. Most of these came from combustible dust violations and the company not taking measures to protect workers from possible dust explosions. The hammer mill had openings in the dust collection exhaust path, allowing combustible dust to escape and accumulate. The dust collector did not have a functioning monitoring device and the dust collector needed repairs, and there was not an adequate dust emission location. To prevent the possibility of an explosion, dust levels should be kept under 1/8 inch, but this facility had dust accumulations much higher than that throughout the building. OSHA’s Houston North Area Office Acting Area Director, Josh Flesher, explains why this is such an issue in manufacturing facilities: “Airborne grain dust in the right concentration can become explosive and must be properly controlled by ventilation, proper housekeeping to control dust accumulations and other effective means, which this employer failed to do”. Other violations that were found by OSHA inspectors included failure to guard belts, pulleys, chains, and sprockets that are less than 7 feet from the ground. There were also no procedures to prevent machinery from starting up accidentally, documentation of forklift training, identifying names on maintenance locks, and no information for employees needing to wear respirators. A representative from the company, Thomas Moore Feeds, has said that the business’ main concern is ensuring the safety of their employees, and they have hired an independent safety consulting company to help them with these combustible dust violations. The company plans on investigating and fixing all of these safety issues, and wants to request a conference with OSHA representatives to work to lower the fines and comply with the citations.   #### Read the full OSHA Press Release **[HERE](https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=27354)**   #### To ask any questions, or file a complaint about workplace hazards, the public can call OSHA’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or visit [https://www.osha.gov/as/opa/worker/complain.html](https://www.osha.gov/as/opa/worker/complain.html) Tags: [Articles](https://info.hughesenv.com/topic/articles), [Combustible Dust Remediation](https://info.hughesenv.com/topic/combustible-dust-remediation), [Industry News](https://info.hughesenv.com/topic/industry-news), [OSHA](https://info.hughesenv.com/topic/osha) #### Written by [Admin](https://info.hughesenv.com/author/admin) ### Subscribe to our blog ### Request a Quote Have a question about Hughes Environmental? We are here for anything you may need. Need a quote? We’ll have it within 24 hours of your request. ### Corporate Office 908 South 8th St. Suite 500 Louisville, KY 40203 [Return Policy](https://hughesenv.com/return-policy) [![logo-transparent](https://info.hughesenv.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Hughes%20Environmental/logo-transparent.png?width=224&height=113&name=logo-transparent.png "logo-transparent")](https://hughesenv.com/) - [**](https://www.facebook.com/hughesenvironmental) - [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/hughes-environmental/) - [**](https://twitter.com/cleanductwork) **(888) 845-3952** **Email: [info@hughesenv.com](mailto:%20info@hughesenv.com)** **Fax: 502-213-3167** [**](https://info.hughesenv.com/combustible-dust-violations-animal-feed-plant#)