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

North Carolina General Statute 95-129(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of North Carolina: The employer did not furnish to each of his employees conditions of 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: a)fire and explosion hazards while operating and working near Sagger Pit Furnace Number 61, which consisted of nine North American Burners divided into three zones that were fired by natural gas on and before June 5, 2000. The North American Burners were not protected by the supervision of each burner flame by a combustion safeguard. b)fire and explosion hazards while operating and working near Sagger Pit Furnace Number 62, which consisted of nine North American Burners divided into three zones that were fired by natural gas on and before June 5, 2000. The North American Burners were not protected by the supervision of each burner flame by a combustion safeguard. c)fire and explosion hazards while operating and working near Sagger Pit Furnace Number 63, which consisted of nine North American Burners divided into three zones that were fired by natural gas on and before June 5, 2000. The North American Burners were not protected by the supervision of each burner flame by a combustion safeguard. d)fire and explosion hazards while operating and working near Sagger Pit Furnace Number 64, which consisted of nine North American Burners divided into three zones that were fired by natural gas on and before June 5, 2000. The North American Burners were not protected by the supervision of each burner flame by a combustion safeguard. e)fire and explosion hazards while operating and working near Sagger Pit Furnace Number 65, which consisted of nine North American Burners divided into three zones that were fired by natural gas on and before June 5, 2000. The North American Burners were not protected by the supervision of each burner flame by a combustion safeguard. Reference: NFPA 86.5-9.1, 1999, Standard for Ovens and Furnaces. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to install "Flame Supervision" equipment having a maximum flame failure response time of 4 seconds or less, that performs a safe-start check, and is interlocked into the combustion safety circuitry on each burner. This "Flame Supervision" is designed to shut down the furnace if it detects no flame eliminating the possibility of the gas/air mixture continueing when no flame is present. This method of "Flame Supervision" was in use before the accident on Furnaces 50, 51, and 52 and is required at NFPA 86.5-9.1, 1999.