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

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 the hazard of chemical burns from improperly stored Ammonium Hydroxide: a) Workplace, storage yard - Employees were subject to burns from the violative pressurized release of Ammonium Hydroxide that had been stored in direct sunlight and/or in temperatures in excess of 80 degrees (F). Occurred on or about 06/27/00. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods to correct the hazard is to: 1) Relocate the plastic 55 gallon drum outside storage area to a temperature controlled atmosphere and/or at the very minimal, to a consistent shaded area away from heat sources and monitor temperature readings to ensure that the product is stored below 80 degrees (F) as recommended by the product manufacturer. This can be accomplished by building a permanent open-sided canopy/shed shielding the product from the elements and provide natural ventilation as well. Also, install a thermometer in the vicinity of the stored product to aid in eliminating guessing games concerning storage temperatures. 2) Develop and implement a policy to ensure that pressure relief bungs are installed on all containers once they are accepted from the supplier into the storage area. 3) Unless a less toxic can be substituted for the hazardous substance, develop and implement alternative engineering controls, such as but not limited to, eliminate the need for employees to manually open tightly sealed closed pressurized 55 gallon drum containers. This can be accomplished by changing to either bulk delivery into existing plant piping or by a tote container, both of which would have back-flow prevention capabilities. 4) Develop and institute a policy to ensure employee recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and regulations applicable to their work environment that would control and/or eliminate hazards or exposures to illness and injury. NOTE:ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM. See page 2,"Notification of Corrective Action" for instructions.