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 potential fire and/or explosion hazards. a. Wax Blending Area - On or about 6/10/91, employees working in area milling AMOCO 18-290, granular polyalpha-methyl styrene were exposed to fire and/or explosion hazards due to the collection of combustible dusts in a dust collector located inside the work area in the building and which was not vented to the outside or equipped with explosion vents. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods to correct this hazard include: (1) Locate the dust collector outside the building. (2) Locate the dust collector adjacent to an exterior wall, vent it to the outside through straight ducts not exceeding 10 feet (3 M) in length, and have explosion vents designed according to information in NFPA 68, Guide for Venting of Deflagrations. (3) Provide a dust collector provided with an explosion suppression system meeting the requirements of NFPA 69, Standard on Explosion Prevention Systems. ABATEMENT NOTE: See "NFPA 654, Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions in the Chemical, Dye, Pharmaceutical, and Plastics Industries."