Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: BURNS

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: On or about December 15, 1985, at the stabilizer reboiler furnace, employees were exposed to serious burns and/or death from fire and explosion hazards during the start-up cycle of the furnace. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to establish administrative and engineering controls that will include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following: 1) Prior to allowing employees access to furnace controls, restrict burner fuel gas flow to the stabilizer reboiler furnace when abnormal conditions within the furnance are indicated; 2) A fail-safe device shall be installed that will automatically shut down the burner fuel gas flow under abnormal conditions; 3) Revise start-up procedures for the stablizer reboiler furnace to include contingencies for abnormal furnace operation; and 4) Train employees in revised start-up procedures and the hazards of abnormal furnace operations including procedures to be followed to return the furnace to a safe operating condition or initiate an emergency shutdown.