Standard Cited: 5A0001 OSH Act General Duty Paragraph

Violation Items
Nr: 107365751 Citation: 01001 Issuance: 04/19/1990 ReportingID: 0626600
Viol Type:Serious NrInstances:1 Contest Date:05/08/1990
Abatement Date:04/24/1990 X Nr Exposed:181 Final Order:10/21/1992
Initial Penalty:1000.00 REC:A Emphasis:
Current Penalty:1000.00 Gravity:10 Haz Category:EXPLOSION

Penalty and Failure to Abate Event History
Type Event Date Penalty abatement Type FTA Insp
Penalty Z: Issued 04/19/1990 1000.00 04/24/1990 Serious  
Penalty F: Formal Settlement 10/21/1992 1000.00 04/24/1990 Serious  


Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: EXPLOSION
Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The %% employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to: a) atmospheric contamination by asphyxiating and flammable hydrocarbon vapors when combustible gas detection equipment was not used in accordance with manufacturers instructions. Sniffers were used to sample for flammable vapors in nitrogen purge atmospheres in the Polyethylene Plants 4 and 5. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is to follow the manufacturer's instructions (MSA Minigard) that the equipment not be used in an oxygen deficient atmosphere as the device that measures the Lower Explosive Limit of the sampled gas cannot function properly in such an atmosphere; therefore, the reading will be low.