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

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employmnent 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 carbon dioxide levels in excess of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) recommended short term exposure limit (STEL) of 30,000 parts per million (ppm) over a fifteen minute period: a) Freezing Tunnel Area: Employees were exposed in excess of the NIOSH and ACGIH recommended STEL of 30,000 parts per million (ppm) carbon dioxide. An exposure of 31781 ppm was documented during a 115 minute sampling period and an exposure of 31703 ppm was documented during a 109 minute sampling period. Abatement Note: Feasible abatement may include but is not necessarily limited to the following: 1.Enhanced local exhaust ventilation at both the intake and output areas of the freezing tunnel. 2.Provision of make-up air to allow for efficient operation of the exhaust ventilation. 3.Use of a floor fan to allow for better air mixing in the plant. 4.Installation, use and maintenance of a carbon dioxide alarm which will warn employees if hazardous STEL levels are being approached. This alarm should be positioned in an area where highest exposures are expected.