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: At the establishment, 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 his employees in that employees were exposed to the hazards posed by the storage and potential intermixing of incompatible materials such as but not limited to Acids, Alkalis, Corrosives and other conditions such as water presenting the recognized hazards of inhalation of toxic gases, chemical burns, severe irritations to the respiratory tract, eyes, skin, etc....in areas such as, but not limited to the emulsion room. Employee(s) responded to a hydrochloric acid leak in the emulsion room without the use of personal protective clothing equipment, a neutralizer, or a buddy system where water was used initially to dilute the acid and push the acid and water mixture into a drain beneath the batch treatment tank. Among other methods of control, the employer could store each item of inventory in an environment which is ideally safe for compatible materials, group items together for storage and use in suitable containment areas to prevent the possibility of intermixing, and ensure employees are trained on the hazards of intermixing incompatible materials.