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

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 a gasoline tank explosion and resulting multiple traumatic injuries and burns due to ignition of gasoline vapors in a 2000 gallon gasol- ine storage tank when an unapproved abrasive wheel was used to cut open a flammable gasoline tank and proper precautions had not been taken. Specifically, a) Employees were inadequately trained in recognizing hazards; b) Oxygen and Lower Explosive Limits (L.E.L.) readings were not taken; c) The tank had not been purged and/or inerted before cutting; d) The abrasive wheel and steel shovel used for cleaning were not approved for Class I, Division 1, Group D locations; e) Employees were not provided proper protective equipment when entering the tank to clean. Among other methods one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to establish formalized procedures when removing flammable or combustible storage tanks consisting of the following provisions: 1. Training for employees on the hazards of tank removal and the assurance of proper supervision and enforcement of safe operating procedures; 2. Proper monitoring of oxygen and L.E.L. readings throughout the removal procedure, including cutting, purging and/or inerting of tanks; 3. Purging and/or inerting the tank before cutting it; 4. Using only equipment approved for hazardous Class I locations; 5. Providing all employees with proper protective equipment when entry into tanks is necessary.