Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 007 Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.119(j)(5): Equipment deficiencies. The employer shall correct deficiencies in equipment that are outside acceptable limits (defined by the process safety information in paragraph (d) of this section) before further use or in a safe and timely manner, when necessary, means are taken to assure safe operation. a. On or about April 23, 2024, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that Building 2 and the associated CR1 reactor and other covered processes had its deficiencies corrected that were outside of acceptable limits in that the emergency alarm notification system was in bypass mode, slowing communications to all employees in Building 2 and safe evacuation in the case of an emergency. An explosion/fire occurred on or about April 23, 2024, when an employee went to pull the fire alarm in the CR1 control room, the audible alarm did not signal to let employees know to evacuate. As a result, employees working on and within the vicinity of the CR1 covered process in Building 2 were exposed to fire, explosion, and contact hazards. b. On or about April 23, 2024, and at times prior, the employer did not ensure that the CR1 reactor covered process had its equipment deficiencies corrected that were outside of acceptable limits such as, but not limited to, the two-piece 1-inch compression fitting joint from the pipe assembly of the fluid feed piping into the CR1 reactor were installed within the acceptable limits in that two incompatible ferrules were installed. An explosion/fire occurred on or about April 23, 2024, when the incompatible ferrules had galling and working fluid seepage that resulted in the separation of the fitting. As a result, employees working on and within the vicinity of the CR1 covered process in Building 2 were exposed to fire, explosion, and contact hazards.