Cabinetmaker Died from Wood Dust Exposure

BILLINGS, MT - Acute, long-term exposure to wood dust led to the death of a 55-year-old finish sander at a Montana cabinet shop, OSHA says. Following the January death of Tom Hegg, a 15-year employee at Oak Creations Inc., an OSHA inspection found 21 serious safety that exposed workers to respiratory hazards, fire, explosion, and amputation. The citations were handed out July 27 by OSHA. The Columbus, MT-based cabinetmaker faces fines of $50,000. Oak Creations was cited for insufficient housekeeping of combustible wood dust "on elevated surfaces and ledges from one-half inch in depth to approximately 2 inches […]