OSHA Inspection: SCHERING CORP.

Issued

May 16, 1988

Abate by

Aug 16, 1988

Penalty

Initial $500 · Current $250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  On
or about 3/30/88, the employer did not furnish employment and a place
of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing
or likely to cuase death or serious physical harm to employees in that
employees were exposed to the hazard of a chemical powder fire which
could be result in serious bodily burns and injuries.  Building #16,
pyroforic powders, platinum carbon and palladium carbon, are weighed
from a shipping fiber drum into a ten gallon stainless steel pot under
atmospheric conditions causing the powders to burn:
a) Feasible and acceptable abatement method, among others, to correct
the hazard is:
To transfer and weigh the catalyst powders from the shipping drum into
a closed inverted vessel/system.

Issued

May 16, 1988

Abate by

Aug 16, 1988

Penalty

Initial $500 · Current $250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  On
or about 3/30/88, 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 a dust explosion/fire which
could result in serious bodily burns and injuries.  In Building #16, two
chemical operators were seriously burned on their upper torso by a
deflagration blast emitted from a reactor's open charge port during the
hand pouring of the catalyst powder into a vessel through the 14 inch
diameter manhole port:
a) One feasible and acceptable abatement method, among others, to
correct this hazard is:
To charge the catalyst powders into the reactor vessel through a closed
vessel which would prevent air from entering the reactor.