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

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that: a) Employees were exposed to potential explosion and fire hazards while working in the vicinity of the scrubber building on or about November 21, 1985. The accumulator tank (pressure vessel) which contained unrefined liquid hydrocarbons, gases and vapors, with hydrogen sulfide content and numerous other corrosive substances was being used for a service more severe than its intended use which was for storage of propane gas. The exposure to these substances increase the probability and likelihood of corrosion, erosion, oxidation, stress cracking and other deterioration of the vessel. A feasible and acceptable abatement method of correcting these hazards related to pressure vessel failure is to design vessel features and select materials which are suitable for containment of materials known to cause stress cracking and corrosion.