UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: OTHER

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. For the separate carbon dioxide, argon and nitrogen piping systems throughout the plant, the employer did not have the means to detect and control a leak, rupture or complete breach of the piping in any of the piping systems. The piping systems are connected to a six ton carbon dioxide receiver, a 1500 gallon argon tank and a 900 gallon liquid nitrogen tank that could, in the event of a failure in a piping system, empty the entire contents of an individual storage tank, or receiver, into the facility. This condition exposes employees throughout the facility to an asphyxiation hazard. Feasible methods of abatement to control and/or correct the hazard associated with the nitrogen piping system include the following: a.Install oxygen alarms at breathing zone level for the affected areas of the plant to warn employees of oxygen deficiency in the event of a breach in the system. b.Install a piping monitoring system with controls to automatically shut down the system in the event of a breach in the piping system. c.Install an audible warning alarm system to coordinate with oxygen alarms and/or a piping monitoring system to initiate an emergency evacuation in the event of a breach in the piping system. d.Develop procedures for manually closing valves in the event of mechanical failure (shut-down). These procedures shoud anticipate oxygen deficient atmospheres. e.Develop inspection and preventive maintenance procedures for the piping systems to prevent leaks, ruptures or breaks associated with damage, corrosion and other related issues.