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 recognized fire and smoke inhalation hazards associated with systems recirculating a heat transfer medium above its flash point and auto-ignition temperature where the employer selected diesel fuel as a heat transfer fluid in lieu of an engineered heat transfer fluid. For the Sulfur Recovery Unit Hot Oil System: On or about May 9, 2006, the employer selected diesel fuel to be used as a heat transfer medium in a system operating above the diesel fuel's auto-ignition temperature and flash point. The employer could have used an engineered heat transfer fluid with higher auto-ignition temperatures and flash points that could reduce the fire risks associated with the diesel fuel. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is operation of the recirculating heat transfer system with a commercially available heat transfer fluid circulating below its auto-ignition temperature.n