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 the hazards of fire: (a) On September 15, 1995, where two laboratory employees were installing an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). A drain tube was positioned between the AAS and the 2 1/2 gallon plastic carboy which was used to drain the bottle. The carboy was located in a closed cabinet underneath the AAS. The manufacturer recommends the drain bottle be placed in an open area and not in an enclosure, such as a closed cabinet. Failure to do so can result in a build-up of potentially explosive vapors, depending on the solvent being used. Following the manufacturer's recommended procedures would have included proper placement of the bottle and ensuring proper positioning of the discharge tube into the bottle. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard would be to properly position the drain bottle outside of the enclosure in the open area where the build-up of potentially explosive vapors could not occur.