Explosive dust at Texas animal feed facility threatens workers
OSHA cites Thomas Moore Feed for 18 violations
Combustible dust – which, left uncontrolled or suspended in the air can explode -- was one of many safety hazards discovered after an inspection at the Thomas Moore Feed facility in Navasota, Texas, by OSHA inspectors. The company with cited for 18 violations and proposed a penalty of $58,100.
The agency's Houston North Area Office did its inspection in September 2014 following a complaint. OSHA cited Thomas Moore Feed for not protecting workers from a potential dust explosion; allowing openings in the dust collection exhaust path of the hammer mill; failing to keep dust accumulations below 1/8 inch in a priority area; not maintaining a functioning monitoring device on the dust collector or making repairs to the dust collector; and not having an adequate dust emission source.