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

Section 5 (a) (1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer does not furnish employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees are exposed to the recognized hazards of excessive heat and steam explosion associated with a petroleum coke settling chamber: The employer violated this standard on or about on September 21, 2008, where the employer deviated from established operating procedures while working with heated petroleum coke, exposing employees to the hazard of burns and injury from projected debris. The risk of catastrophic release of heated petroleum coke and steam was increased where the employer failed to perform regular inspection of equipment due to excessive slag build-up in the chamber. A feasible method to eliminate or reduce the hazard would be to ensure the established operating procedures are followed and sufficient time given as annotated in the operating procedures for proper cooling of the petroleum coke. Additionally, an inspection, maintenance, and cleaning schedule would ensure the chamber is maintained in a safe operating condition. Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit an abatement plan within 10 days describing the actions it is taking to ensure established operating and maintenance procedures are utilized.