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 engaged in maintenance activities involving the removal of a slip blind from the 36 inch flare line at the North Flare Tower on August 17, 1990, were exposed to fire and explosion hazards resulting from the release of refinery process gases. The following conditions contributed to the existence of this hazard: a) Monitoring was not done prior to commencement or duing the removal of the slip blind to detect the presence of flammable process gases, which were expected to be present at that time. b) A positive means was not utilized to minimize the release of flammable process gases. c) A warning device was not used to signal the release of flammable process gases. d) The work area was not cordoned off during the work period to keep out unauthorized personnel and vehicles at the time of an emergency, such as the release of the flammmable process gases. FEASIBLE ABATEMENT METHOD(S) AMONG OTHERS INCLUDE: 1) Instrumentation be used at all times when removing slip blinds to indicate the presence of flammable process gases. 2) Install block valves or seals to isolate area to be worked on and prevent any leak of toxic process gases. 3) A freon horn and/or whistle be kept on each job to warn of sudden emergencies. 4) Rope off at a sufficient distance from the flammable area to keep unauthorized personnel and vehicles out of the area. ABATEMENT NORMALLY WILL BE MULTISTEP AS FOLLOWS: STEP 1: 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 HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AS REFERENCED IN THIS CITATION. THIS PLAN SHALL INCLUDE, AT A MINIMUM, TARGET DATES FOR THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS WHICH MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH THE ABATEMENT DATES REQUIRED BY THIS CITATION: (1) EVALUATION OF ENGINEERING/ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL OPTIONS; (2) SELECTION OF OPTIMUM CONTROL METHODS AND COMPLETION OF DESIGN; (3) PROCUREMENT, INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF SELECTION CONTROL MEASURES, AND (4) TESTING AND ACCEPTANCE OF MODIFICATION/REDESIGN OF CONTROLS. NOTE: ALL PROPOSED CONTROL MEASURES SHALL BE APPROVED FOR EACH PARTICULAR USE BY A COMPETENT INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST OR OTHER TECHNICALLY QUALIFIED PERSON. SIXTY (60) DAY PROGRESS REPORTS ARE REQUIRED DURING THE ABATEMENT PERIOD. THE SIXTY (60) DAY REQUIREMENT FOR THE SUBMISSION OF PROGRESS REPORTS MAY BE SHORTENED OR LENGTHENED BY THE AREA DIRECTOR DEPENDING ON THE SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES. STEP 2: ABATEMENT SHALL HAVE BEEN COMPLETED BY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FEASIBLE ENGINEERING AND/OR ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS.