Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 004 Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.303(b)(1): Electrical equipment was not free from recognized hazards that were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees, in that the employer did not ensure the safety of the equipment pursuant to the considerations in sections (i) through (viii) of 29 CR 1910.303(b)(1): a) Wet Lab: On or about April 21, 2022, employees were observed performing analytical procedures that included, but were not limited to, an Ammonia/TKN Phenate Method on a distillation block that short circuited in chemical fume hood 21V. Defective cords connected to the rotating distillation block resulted in a short-circuit that caused sparks exposing employees, who were within close proximity, to risk of physical harm such as burns. b) Prep Lab - New Prep Area: On or about March 04, 2022, employees performed analytical procedures in fume hoods near a dishwasher where glassware that used various chemicals such as methylene chloride, ethyl ether, and acetone were cleaned. The dishwasher was placed directly next to a sink where MC was primarily used to manually clean the glassware, which frequently splashed the chemical by and on the machine. The dishwasher's electrical wiring short-circuited resulting in a fire that had to be extinguished, exposing employees to the risk of physical harm such as burns.