Text For Citation: 01 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 chemical burns and inhalation hazards from leaks of corrosive Oleum liquid due to an inadequate pipe inspection program: (a)Sulfuric Acid Recovery Unit: Piping inspections were not conducted for all sections of Oleum containing piping identified as higher risk sections based on prior leak incidents in the unit. The one inch Oleum Sample Line that branches off the Oleum Cooler to Oleum Tower Line that was installed in 1993 did not have a history of any type of inspection prior to a January 23, 2010 leak as determined on May 12, 2010. AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS TO DEVELOP A LIST OF SPECIFIC ACID LINES TO BE INSPECTED AT THE BELLE DUPONT FACILITY BASED ON INDUSTRY GUIDELINES, SUCH AS API-570, AS WELL AS HIGH RISK FACTORS IDENTIFIED IN PREVIOUS LEAK INVESTIGATIONS. ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM