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: Recognized hazards of fire, smoke and/or explosion due to the in- stantaneous spread of fire and smoke into adjacent work areas. This hazards could be corrected through methods such as those described in the Life Safety Code - NFPA No. 101-1970, Section 14-2211 and Section 6-1 which requires any openings to be enclosed or protected to prevent the spread of fire or smoke: a. January 8, 1992, fire and smoke originating in room containing No. 2 fryer was not protected so as to prevent their spread throughout the Pilgrim's Pride Prepared Foods Processing Plant, Mount Pleasant, Texas. Recognized hazard of fire, smoke and/or explosion due to pressurized combustible liquid pipe failure. These hazards could be corrected through methods such as those described in Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, NFPA 30-1990, Piping System Section 3.8 which requires all piping placed in use to be hydrostatically or pneumatically tested: a. All piping designed, fabricated, asembled and installed on fryer cookers on and/or prior to the January 8, 1992 fire, at the Pilgrim's Pride Prepared Foods Plant, Mount Pleasant, Texas, were not hydrostatically or pneumatically tested prior to being placed in service or use. Recognized hazard of fire, smoke and/or explosion due to the lack of employee emergency warning system. These hazards could be corrected through methods such as those described in the Life Safety Code - NFPA No. 101-1970, Section 14-2183, which requires manuel fire alarm systems for employee notification in the event of fire. a. The Pilgrim's Pride Prepared Foods Processing Plant, Mount Pleasant, Texas, was not equipped with a manuel fire alarm system. IN THE ALTERNATIVE OF 29 CFR 1910.165(b)(3): The employee alarm was not distinctive and recognizable as a signal to evacuate the work area or to perform action designated under the emergency action plan: a. PA System used for general communications and as the employees' emergency alarm system did not provide employee warning which were distinctive and recognizable above normal daily communiques. Recognized hazard of fire, smoke and/or explosion due to lack of automatic sprinklers in room containing high hazard contents. This hazard could be corrected through methods such as those described in Life Safety Code - NFPA No. 101-1970, Section 14-1321, which requires every high hazard occupancy to have automatic sprinkler protection or other approved protection: a. January 8, 1992 a fire started in the No. 2 fryer room and spreaded throughout the Pilgrim's Pride Prepared Foods Processing Plant, Mount Pleasant, Texas. No building fire suppression system provided. Recognized hazard of fire, smoke and/or explosion due to excessive travel distances to an exit. This hazard could be corrected through methods such as those described in the Life Safety Code - NFPA No. 101-1970, Sections 14-4231, which requires in all cases where the area is classified as containing high hazard contents, the travel distance from the hazardous area to the outside or to aplace of safety not exceed 75 feet, measured as specified in 5-1191: a. January 8, 1992 a fire started in the No. 2 fryer room, employees were required to travel approximately 230 feet to the nearest side-hinged, swing type exit. The above condition occurred at the Pilgrim's Pride Prepared Foods Processing Plant, Mount Pleasant, Texas.