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

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 fires when processing the hair bleach powder: a)Blending Department: On 8/6/99, employees were using work station #2, which consisted of the Acrison Hopper, Grinder and Sweeco combination, to produce hair bleach powder. The grinder had a screen installed incorrectly which caused the material to accumulate, heat up, and eventually caused a fire. b)Work Station 8: On 9/14/1999 employees were working at Work Station #8. Employees were packaging a hair bleaching powder comprised of several ingredients including sodium persulfate. Work Station #8 consists of a Bartelt powder weighing and packaging machine which is a series of hoppers, Ackerson feed screws, and augers that portion powder into pouches which are positioned on a conveyor. A portion of the total product decomposed causing ignition and open flame. Abatement note: One feasible and acceptable method of abatement to correct the hazard of fires is to perform a complete and thorough hazard analysis to identify, evaluate, and control all the hazards involved with the production of hair bleach powder. Another acceptable method of abatement is to develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the production of hair bleach powder and to train all affected employees accordingly.