Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002 Hazard: EXPLOSION

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment an 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: ...increased hazard of explosion caused by water accumulated in the vent line for the rupture disc from the nitrogen pressurized blow tank. Both the weight of the water and vigorous reaction of Thionyl Chloride with water would contribute to produce a back pressure which would impede discharge of the tank contents should the rupture disc be blown. Section UG-135 (g) of the 1989 Edition of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII Division 1, requires discharge piping to be fitted with an open drain to prevent liquid from lodging in the discharge side of the safety device. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to fit the discharge pipe for the rupture disc with an open drain.