Carpet manufacturer Mohawk Industries, Inc. will implement procedures to prevent combustible dust explosions under a settlement agreement with OSHA. The agency cited Mohawk in June 2011 for six alleged violations at the company’s facility in Ohio, including one involving dust. The agreement requires the Georgia-based company to abate alleged fire hazards at the facility. In addition, Mohawk will hire a fire protection engineer to assess potential fire and explosion hazards at all four of its U.S.-based carpet pad facilities, implement the engineer’s recommendations, develop and implement procedures for periodic cleanup and removal of accumulations of polymer foam dust, provide combustible dust and emergency evacuation training to employees, and perform monthly inspections of fire-suppression sprinkler systems. The company’s other carpet pad facilities are in Georgia, Texas and Connecticut.
