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Violation Detail
Standard Cited: 5A0001 OSH Act General Duty Paragraph
Inspection Nr: 113529002
Citation: 01001
Citation Type: Serious
Abatement Status: X
Initial Penalty: $3,500.00
Current Penalty: $1,400.00
Issuance Date: 10/12/1999
Nr Instances: 1
Nr Exposed: 3
Abatement Date: 11/30/1999
Gravity: 10
Report ID: 0112600
Contest Date:
Final Order:
Related Event Code (REC): R
Emphasis:
| Type | Latest Event | Event Date | Penalty | Abatement Due Date | Citation Type | Failure to Abate Inspection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penalty | A: Amendment | 10/29/1999 | $1,400.00 | 11/30/1999 | Serious | |
| Penalty | Z: Issued | 10/12/1999 | $3,500.00 | 11/30/1999 | Serious |
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 hazards resulting from the uncontrolled release of perchloroethylene vapor and hydrochloric acid mists in the event of a runaway chemical reaction in the vapor degreaser and/or still: a) NORTHAMPTON WIRE PLANT; COATING DEPARTMENT: THE ULTRA-CALL MODEL 40-25-30 VAPOR SPRAY DEGREASER (AND STILL) WHICH WAS INSTALLED IN THE DEPARTMENT IN 1995 WAS NOT REGULARLY MAINTAINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNCONTROLLED RELEASE OF PERCHLOROETHYLENE VAPORS ON 8/5/99. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION OF THE STILL ON AND 9/2/99 REVEALED THAT THE STILLS BOTTOM AND ELECTRIC HEATING COIL ASSEMBLY WERE COMPLETELY CAKED IN A VISCOUS BLACK TAR LIKE SUBSTANCE THAT DEVELOPS DUE TO PROLONGED USE OF AN ACIDIFIED DEGREASING SOLVENT AND LACK OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE CONTINUED USE OF THE ACIDIFIED SOLVENT AND EXCESSIVE SLUDGE ACCUMULATION IN THE STILL BOTTOM INTERFERES WITH PROPER OPERATION OF THE STILLS AND ALLOWS FOR A RUNAWAY EXOTHERMIC REACTION BETWEEN THE SOLVENT AND SLUDGE WHICH RESULTS IN THE ESCAPE OF PERCHLOROETHYLENE VAPORS AND ACID MISTS FROM THE STILL. b) NORTHAMPTON WIRE PLANT; COATING DEPARTMENT; A 08/11/99 INSPECTION OF THE ULTRA-CALL DEGREASER/STILL REVEALED THE FOLLOWING DEFECTS INVOLVING WORKER TO MACHINE INTERFACES WHICH WERE EITHER INOPERATIVE, UNREADABLE OR UNINTERPRETABLE; i) THE LAMP THAT IS DESIGNED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE STILLS HEATING COILS ARE ENERGIZED WAS NOT OPERATIONAL. ii) THE ANALOG TEMPERATURE GAUGE ON THE TOP LEFT CORNER OF THE STILL WAS UNREADABLE DUE TO DIRT/CORROSION ON THE GAUGES FACE. iii) THE SIGHT GLASS ON THE SIDE OF THE STILL WAS COATED WITH A BLACK SUBSTANCE ON THE INSIDE OF THE GLASS THAT COMPLETELY OBSTRUCTED VIEW OF THE SOLVENT LEVEL IN THE STILL. iv) THE SIGHT GLASS ON THE DEGREASER SUMP WAS COATED WITH A BLACK SUBSTANCE ON THE INSIDE OF THE GLASS THAT COMPLETELY OBSTRUCTED VIEW OF THE SOLVENT LEVEL IN THE STILL.