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

DRAFT OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to fire, deflagration, combustion, and explosion hazards from the ignition of the overfilled tank and the vapors or liquid or physical transfer of the waste chemical from the tanker to the tank farm: ESTABLISHMENT/TANK FARM: On/or about December 29, 2023, the employer directed the employees to load hazardous materials from a tanker truck into vertical receiving tanks. When the tanks are full the employer allows employees to move the hazardous materials from the vertical tanks (5-11) into the horizontal tanks (1-4). The employer directed employees transfer 4000 gallons of liquid from tank 7 to tank 3 to make space in Tank 7 for the contents of an incoming wastewater tanker. The employer did not test compatibility of materials in Tanks 7 and 3 prior to the transfer. An explosion occurred resulting in injuries to two employees and a driver from an outside company who was delivering waste oxidizing liquid. A faulty gauge in Tank 7 and leaks in the common line added possible failures modes for chemicals finding an ignition source resulting in fires, explosions and burns to the driver of the tanker.