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

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 explosions of highly toxic and/or flammable gases or vapor: a) Chemicals are stored together which if accidentally came in contact, could result in violent reactions, polymerization, excessive heat (exothermic) and gas plus vapor release, January 13, 1987. Some chemicals in storage were sulfuric acid, methylene chloride, isoprophyl alcohol, propylene oxide, ammonium hydroxide solution, acrylonitrile terephthaloyl chlorida, acetone and other flammable and caustic materials. Among other methods, some feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct this hazard are: 1) Storage of flammable liquids in contaiers or tanks should comply with the requirements of the flammable and combustible liquids code (NFPA No. 30). 2) Isolate storage - storage away from incompatible materials in a different storage room or in separate and detached buildings located at a safe distance. 3) Separate storage - separate by as much space as practicable or by intervening storage from incompatible materials. Protection against moisture during storage for those chemicals that react with water. 4) Inert gas blanketing to reduce possibility of flammable vapor mixture in storage.