OHSA has found over 3600 violations as a result of 813 inspections over the last one and one-half years. The most cited violations are: hazard communication,personal protective equipment,electrical, and general duty clauses. The inspections were done as a result of the National Emphasis Program which is designed to reduce exposure to combustible dust hazards. A lot of the violations were willful, serious,repeat, or failure to abate.
Companies who have combustible dust need to review hot work processes, evaluate location of electrical equipment, prohibit flames in dust laden areas, make sure dust is released to a safe location, and develop an emergency action plan.
Dust fires and explosions occur when five factors are present: oxygen, an ignition source, dust, dispersion of the dust and confinement of the dust. These five factors are called the Dust Explosion Pentagon.
Additional information is available from OSHA regional office, 61 Forsyth St. S.W., Atlanta, GA.
If you know of someone who was injured or killed in an explosion accident, call Mississippi Accident Lawyer, Paul Snow, for your FREE consultation, 601-969-1977 or contact us online.
The last explosion case that we were involved in and were lead trial counsel involved an explosion at Partridge-Raleigh. The National Chemical Safety Board prepared a videotape of their final investigation.
