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

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: On or about 1/13/92, 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- Plantwide - On or about 1/13/92, employees were exposed to fire and explsions in areas where natureal gas heaters and torches, used for heating and drying, were not installed and serviced by a qualified agency in accordance with the National Fire Gas Code NFPA.54-1988/ANSI Z223.1-1988. The term "qualified agency" means any individual, firm, corporation or company which either in person or through a representative is engaged in and is responsible for (a) the installation or replacement of gas piping or (b) the conenction, installation,r epair or servicing of equipment, who is experience in such work, familiar with a precautions required,m and has complied with all the requirements of the authority having jurisdiction. Among other feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct these hazards are as follows: 1- Train maintenance pipe fitters in ther equirements of the NAtional Fuel Gas Code N.F.P.A 54-1988/ANSI Z223.1-1988 by the lcoa gas utility company or a gas heater manufacturing company using this knowledge they can upgrade theri heaters and torches to meet the code. 2- Contract a qualified agency such as the local gas utility or a gas heater manufacturing company to service their heaters and torches to comply with the National Fuel gas Code. 3- Contract to buy new approved heaters and torches to replace their non-approved units. 4- Replace all non-approved gas heaters with approved electric or steam heaters.