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 potential violent chemical reactions from inadvertent mixing of incompatible chemicals due to handling and spills: (a)On or about 02/26/2008 - The 55 gallon drums containing incompatible reactive chemicals including, but not limited to, phosphoric acid and sodium hydroxide were stored and staged for use in close proximity to one another. Other chemicals that were incompatible were at the same location in excessive amounts. Chemicals at the same location were stored on broken wooden pallets subjecting the containers to being punctured by forklifts and/or being overturned. Not all container bung openings were kept closed. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods to correct this hazard is to comply with the manufacturer's material safety data sheets, provide chemical handling instruction for the using employees specific to the categories of the chemicals and the processes in which they are used that includes safe work practices in the handling, using, and staging of chemicals for use as well as storage (References to include but not limited to; Safe Storage and Handling of Reactive Materials, American Institute of Chemical Engineers Center for Chemical Process Safety CCPS, 1995; and CAMEO Chemicals at www.noaa.gov regarding reactivity between chemicals) Ensure that containers are closed when not in use. Remove excess chemicals that are not needed for immediate use to a proper storage area. Stage the chemicals on spill containment devices that also serve as a pallet for carrying the containers. (b)On or about 02/26/2008 - The 150 gallon feed tanks that supplied the water treatment tanks - Concentrated Sulfuric Acid and 50Sodium Hydroxide were subject to inadvertent mixing and/or contamination due to the two tanks close proximity to one another and their flip-open top design. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods to correct this hazard is comply with the manufacturer's material safety data sheets and prevent the inadvertent/unintentional mixing and/or contamination by redesign of the feed setup.