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 an explosion hazard at the pit furnace retort. Controls were not installed to ensure that the retort circulating fan is turned on at the beginning of the operating cycle and all oxygen is adequately purged from the retort prior to adding dissociated ammonia and lighting the burn-off tube. Also, a flame arrestor or other device was not installed to prevent a flashback into the retort. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to correct this hazard are to install a system whereby the process cannot continue unless the circulating fan is running and the retort has been adequately purged of oxygen. Also, a burn-off pigtail or other flame arresting device shall be installed to prevent flashback into the retort. Written operating procedures for the new system shall be developed and maintained in the vicinity of the operation and affected employees shall be trained in these procedures.