Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: EXPLOSION

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: a) Injury caused by the explosion of Lead Azide Re1333, while measuring that material from a velostadt cup containing 3 to 4 grams into smaller cups which contain 125mg of material without proper training, supervision of safety precautions being taken. Improper humidity levels maintained. Humidity level was too low in violation of Dept of Defense requirements and no coating was done to shield in order to prevent static buildup. per DOD 4195.26-M. One feasible and acceptable abatement method, among others, to correct this hazard is use of 100% cotton clothing, coat shields with an anti- static coating, train employees as to hazards related to lead azide, increase humidity levels to as near the safe level of 60% as possible and to increase supervision of employees when handling explosive materials such as that stipulated by the Dept. of Defense Contractors Safety Manual for ammunition and explosives dated March 1986. Location is 40 Indian Spring Road, Andover, NJ 07821. Violation occurred on or about 3/7/88.