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 an exothermic chemical reaction: (a) Outside Sulfuric Acid Holding Tank: The employer does not ensure that all inlet portals on the sulfuric acid tank are properly secured and covered to prevent water entry. This violation was observed on August 22, 2003. The inlet tube of the 5,000 gallon sulfuric acid tank had a plastic jug placed over it to keep water from entering the tank. Employees were required to go up to the top of the tank to take liquid level measurements and were exposed to a potential exothermic reaction in the event water enters the sulfuric acid tank. To abate this violation the employer must ensure that all inlet portals are properly covered and secured to prevent water entry into the sulfuric acid tank. Among others methods, one feasible and acceptable means of abatement to correct this hazard is to properly secure and cover all inlet portals from water entry in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, equipped with either a secured screw cap or a tight pressure fitting cap. Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19(d), the employer must provide documentation that this violation has been abated within 10 calendar days of the date it receives this citation.