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 the hazard of being severely injured from a violent chemical reaction due to improper storage of hazardous chemicals: (a) Location - Chemical Storage Room: On or about 9/19/06, employees were exposed to the hazard of being seriously injured by a potentially violent chemical reaction from storage of incompatible chemicals in the same area. Containers of nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrofluoric acid, Luster-On Cleaner, 50sodium hydroxide solution, and hydrochloric acid were stored together in the same room with no separation from each other. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to segregate incompatible chemicals into separately bermed areas. (b) Location - Chemical Storage Room: On or about 9/19/06, employees were exposed to the hazard of a potential violent chemical reaction from storage of sulfuric acid, a water reactive chemical, with other water containing acids and in an area that might be exposed to water through the sprinkler system. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to store the sulfuric acid separate from other chemicals that contain water, in an area that is not sprinklered. (c) Location - Cyanide area: On or about 9/19/07, a barrel of sodium cyanide was stored near a sprinkler head. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to store the barrel of sodium cyanide in a locker or other structure that is impervious to water.