OSHA acted on an anonymous complaint they received about a precision parts manufacturer in Wilmington, Delaware by sending an inspector to the facility on July 14, 2015. By the time the OSHA inspector finished they had issued twelve citations to Franklin Fibre, with fines totaling $86,000.
Several of the citations were due to a buildup of combustible dust and hazards that increase the danger of having accumulations of this dust. The company was cited for not operating and maintaining a dust collection system and allowing the combustible dust to accumulate in work areas. Additional citations were given because employees working around areas with a potential for a combustible dust fire were not provided flame-retardant clothing.
Adding to the hazards of explosive dust, the company was cited for dangerous electrical conditions. A spark or excessive heat from a faulty electrical system can be enough to ignite a combustible dust fire. Employees were also exposed to amputation hazards and a lack of machine guards.
The Director of Wilmington’s OSHA office explained the reason for the citations and fines, and why the company needs to address these dust issues: “People hear the word ‘dust’ and they don’t think ‘deadly’ – but under the right circumstances, a combustible dust explosion can level a building. The machines at this facility generated the kind of dust that can cause a fatal, destructive explosion”.
Cleaning combustible dust must be done carefully with equipment designed to prevent an explosion. Hughes Environmental technicians are trained in the remediation of these explosion and fire risks and use equipment approved for combustible dust cleaning. Contact us now to find out how we can help you avoid a fire in your facility.
