Milton Sanchez

Workers at the chocolate factory reported significant dust accumulation in the product receiving area. With 25 trucks of cacao arriving daily from overseas, the old dust collector failed to manage the increased load. Neglected and poorly maintained, the machinery was deplorable, with filter replacements not being appropriately scheduled. Additionally, the dust collector was undersized and unable to meet the factory's needs. After a thorough evaluation, it was determined that the existing system should be replaced with a new, more efficient dust collector.

During the summer, the kiln experienced stoppages two to three times per week due to misalignment. The electric motors, equipped with a 300-amp safety system, triggered shutdowns. Each restart incurred a cost of $5,000; in some cases, the kiln failed to restart, resulting in an additional hour of downtime and another $5,000 in costs. The root cause of these stoppages was the misalignment.

In Kentucky, many casualties occurred in the mining industry, prompting MSHA to begin conducting safety inspections at cement plants. During an inspection at the CEMEX plant, safety violations were found to exceed the allowable limit. As a result, the plant received a formal notice stating that if the issues were not resolved within 90 days, the plant would face closure.

Maintenance teams, technicians, and cleaning crews promptly addressed the issues, completing the necessary repairs ahead of the MSHA-imposed deadline. Water had entered the silo due to a damaged roof, which was promptly repaired. The cleaning crew ensured all instruments were thoroughly cleaned and dust-free.