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

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 free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to fire and/or explosion: a)Fill Area, Finished Product Area - there was no sprinkler system in the facility that would activate in order to suppress fire so that employees could evacuate the facility. There was continual leaking of the filler supply valve that filled the filler bowl with flammable product (flashpoints ranging from 900 Fahrenheit to 930 Fahrenheit), and leaking of the filler bowl valves that filled bottles into a diked area underneath and on the floor adjacent to the diked area. These leaks resulted in a flammable vapor liberation area around the filler bowl. There was unclassified electrical equipment, such as disconnects, conduit, receptacles, and junction boxes in the vapor liberation area. The facility was covered under the PSM standard as a result of the following amounts of flammable materials present in process equipment during the production of flammable products, such as windshield washer antifreeze (-30, -20), de-icer windshield washer fluid (-25), and winter de-icer bug remover windshield washer fluid (-25): 14,645 pounds of flammable chemicals in the Blending Tanks, 10,799 pounds of flammable chemicals in the Re-Work Totes, a maximum of 68,399 pounds of flammable finished product, and 79,200 pounds of flammable raw materials in the Bulk Storage Tanks. REFERENCE: North Carolina Building Code, 1996 edition, Section 2203.1.15.1: 2203.1.15.1 Automatic Sprinkler Systems: Unless exempted by 2203.2 through 2203.14, indoor storage areas and storage buildings shall be protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system. The design of the sprinkler system shall be not less than ordinary hazard, Group 2 in accordance with NFPA 13. For areas of sprinkler operation of less than 3,000 sq ft (280 m2), a density for 3,000 sq ft (280 m2) shall be used. NOTE: Among other means of abatement, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard is to install a sprinkler system in the area containing the flammable liquids.