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 hazard of an uncontrolled fire or explosion resulting from damage to the facility's electronic control equipment. The employer failed to implement a standard operating procedure requiring shut down of each affected boiler unit under the following circumstances: When the electronic controls for the affected boiler unit are damaged or otherwise compromised such that they can no longer be used to effectively control the operation. (a)Ogden Martin Systems of Lancaster - The employer continued operation of a boiler unit after the Bailey Net 90 computerized control system for said unit had been rendered ineffective for controlling the operation, exposing employees to the hazard of an uncontrolled fire or explosion. This violation occurred on July 28, 1995. ABATEMENT NOTE: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is ensure that a standard operating procedure is implemented requiring shut down of each affected boiler unit when the electronic controls for the unit are damaged or otherwise compromised such that they can no longer be used to effectively control the operation. The employer shall install a shutdown device or devices in the control room independent of the Bailey computerized control system which permits remote shutdown of the fuel feed and combustion aspects of the operation of each affected boiler unit.r