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

Title 21 VSA Chapter 3, Sub chapter 5, Section 223a 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. LOCATION: Dry storage area and Agricell WPC pasturizer side, Agri-mark, 869 Exchange Street, Middlebury, Vermont VIOLATION: On or about June 30, 2010 CSHO noted the employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazard that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm in that incompatible chemical storage and possible mixing of incompatible liquids could result in employees being exposed to chlorine and/or a fire hazard. In the dry storage area, chemicals including Enforce LP (msds retrieved from http://www.docstoc.com/docs/11410029/1524106pdf on July 27, 2010 states "reactive with organic materials, acids" and "Mixing this product with acid or ammonia releases chlorine gas"), Peroxyacetic Acid (msds retrieved from http://msds.chem.ox.ac.uk/PE/peroxyacetic_acid.html on July 27, 2010 states "Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents, acetic anhydride, alkenes, organics"), and Phosphoric Acid 75(msds retrieved from http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9926532 on July 27, 2010 states "keep away from incompatibles such as oxidizing agents, combustible materials, metals, alkalis" and "Reactive with oxidizing agents, combustible materials, metals, alkalis"). In the Agricell WPC pasturizer side, materials including Exelerate HS (msds retrieved July 27, 2010 states "Reactive with organic materials, metals, alkalis") and Surchlor (msds retrieved on July 27, 2010 from http://msds.chem.ox.ac.uk/SO/sodium_hypochlorite.html states "contact with acids releases poisonous gas (chlorine)") were stored together. Feasible means of abatement include separate storage areas for the incompatible acids and bases and containment vessels to prevent spills and leaks from entering the work area, and training employees on the hazards of mixing incompatible materials.le