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) 5/25/89, the hazards of incompatible mixing of cyanide solutions with acids which were stored in close proximity in the "coke room" which is adjacent to the zinc plating room. Such mixing would produce poisonous hydrogen cyanide gas and create the hazard of the fire and explosion since hydrogen cyanide gas is highly flammable. Exposure to hydrogen cyanide gascould result in loss of consciousness, cessation of respiration, burns due to an exposion and death. One feasible and acceptable abatement method, among others is separate storage of cyanide salts and acids.