Violation Detail
Standard Cited: 5A0001 OSH Act General Duty Paragraph
Inspection Nr: 108729682
Citation: 01001
Citation Type: Unclass
Abatement Date: 09/12/1996 E
Initial Penalty: $70,000.00
Current Penalty: $70,000.00
Issuance Date: 09/13/1995
Nr Instances: 1
Nr Exposed: 225
Related Event Code (REC):
Gravity: 10
Report ID: 0521700
Contest Date:
Final Order:
Emphasis:
Text For Citation: 01 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 toxic gases and vapors while performing work in the Isomax, Alkylation, and Unifiner control rooms. The employer did not provide a ventilation system that met the requirements of National Fire Protection Association Standard for Purged and Pressurized Enclosures, NPFA 496. Among other methods, a feasible and acceptable abatement to correct this problem is: 1)Provide a backup ventilation system with a manifolded compressed air system that will maintain positive pressure during a hazardous gas or vapor release. 2)Provide detectors with alarms and/or interlocks in the control room ventilation system to monitor for entry of flammable and hazardous substances such as hydrogen sulfide, hydrofluoric acid, and flammable hydrocarbon. 3)Provide ventilation ducting away from the building to a location where the presence of flammable/hazardous gases will be minimal. 4)Provide SCBA's in sufficient quantity to allow personnel to work in unknown concentration of flammable or toxic gases. 5)Provide positive pressure indicator to verify the control room's degree of pressurization. 6)Provide the Isomax control room with a readable panel indicator if positive pressure is lost. 7)Provide the HF-Alky operators with portable detectors for hydrofluoric acid.
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