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: Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment that 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) Hazardous Waste Storage Area: On or about 5/21/97, employees were exposed to the hazard of a potential violent chemical reaction from storage of incompatible chemicals in the same area. A 55 gallon drum of nitric acid was stored in the same bermed area as a 55 gallon drum of sodium hydroxide. Mixture of these two chemicals would cause a violent chemical reaction. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to segregate incompatible chemicals into separately bermed areas.