Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001A Hazard: ELECTRIC

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: (a) Employees working in the vicinity of washer #10 and dryer #4 in the Laundry Room were exposed to the increased risk of hazards of fire and explosion when laundering solvent-containing blue wipers. The employer did not take adequate measures to prevent the release and ignition of flammable vapors in that flammable solvent vapors could be released into the Laundry Room where there were ignition sources such as electrical equipment and gas flames. Among other methods, a feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is: 1. Develop a means to safely pick up and store the blue wipers prior to washing. Ink wipers should be picked up and trans- ported in covered metal containers. It is recommended that the storage containers be equipped with an elevated slotted rack, so that any excess solvent can drain into the bottom of the container. Wiper containers shall be stored in a fire-rated explosion-proof storage facility designed for class I flammable solvents. A procedure should be devised to evaluate each container for solvent levels in order to make a determination of the appropriate pre-wash, wash, and dry cycle to be used. 2. Design and install a two-hour fire-rated room/building which contains explosion-proof electrical equipment and no sources of ignition. This facility would be used for the handling and washing of the blue wipers in order to remove all traces of solvent in a safe manner. Any equipment used to wash or dry the flammable wipers should be exhaust-ventilated to a location outside the room, and should be rated for class I division 2 electrical requirements. Vapor detectors shall be installed in the uptake ducts of each exhaust system, to monitor vapor levels and automatically shut off the washer or dryer in the event that vapor levels reach 25% of the lower explosive limit. Alarmed vapor detectors shall also be installed to monitor the workroom air. 3. Solvent-contaminated water shall be discharged into an appropriate storage system, and not directly into laundry plant drains where there is a risk of vapor build-up, ignition and explosion. 4. Develop written standard operating practices for the pick up, transport, and laundering of blue wipers. Procedures shall include steps to be taken in normal operations and in emergen- cies. 5. Establish a formal training program to instruct the opera- tors and managers in the hazards and in safe operating pro- cedures for the laundering of solvent-soaked materials.