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 unsafe laboratory procedures and inadequate ventilation creating the hazards of explosion, fire and toxic vapors: a) An employee of Summit Laboratories was exposed to explosions, fire and undetermined levels of toxic gases due to inadequate ventilation present during the improper mixing of sodium hypochlorite solution and sulfamic acid and the subsequent accumulation of explosive gases in the production area of Summit Labs on July 19, 1989. ABATEMENT NORMALLY WILL BE MULTI-STEP AS FOLLOWS: STEP 1: Effective administrative controls preventing the mixing of chemicals with potential for uncontrolled chemical reaction or for toxic fume generation will be implemented as an interim measure until feasible engineering and/or administrative control can be implemented preventing employee exposure to the hazards addressed in this citation. STEP 2: Submit to the Area Director a written detailed plan of abatement outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/ or administrative measures to control employee exposure to the hazards referenced in this citation. The plan shall include, at a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be consistent with the dates required by this citation: a) Identification of hazardous chemicals requiring local exhaust ventilation, and determination of safe laboratory procedures during mixing and manufacturing. b) Selection of optimum control methods and completion of design. c) Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures. STEP 3: Abatement shall be considered complete when the ventilation and administrative controls can reasonably eliminate the hazards identified in this citation.