Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001F Hazard: BURNS

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 the hazards of being burned due to the ignition of pyrotechnic shells: At the fireworks barge #D930687, on or about 07-03-97, one employee was exposed to the hazards of being burned due to the ignition of three-inch through six-inch pyrotechnic shells because of his inability to vacate the area due to the initial placement of the "ready box" and three cardboard boxes containing three-inch and four-inch shells approximately four feet away. This employee repeatedly lit the fuses with a road flare, turned, and crouched at the base of each mortar fired. This employee was showered with sparks and burning debris following the mortar's discharge. One method of abatement to correct this apparent hazard is to instruct each employee in the proper firing of shells, to ensure that the procedure is followed, and to allow for a sufficient amount of space during the set-up of the fireworks display, as required by NFPA 1123, paragraph 4-2.6. DISCLAIMER: a) The employer is not limited to the abatement method(s) suggested by OSHA. b) The employer is responsible for selecting and implementing an effective abatement method. ***THIS ITEM REQUIRES A WRITTEN CERTIFICATION OF ABATEMENT***