OSHA Inspection: AUSIMONT, INC.

Issued

Mar 21, 1988

Abate by

Apr 21, 1988

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $600 Reduced

Issued

Mar 21, 1988

Abate by

Mar 24, 1988

Penalty

Initial $10,000 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  On
or about 10/13/88 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 fire/explosion and the release
of toxic gases/vapors which could result in serious bodily and fatal
injuries.  Hazardous toxic chemicals which were indentified to be
imcompatible by their Material Safety Data Sheets and National Fire
Protection Association Chapter 49-"Hazardous Chemical Data" were stored
together:
a-Polymer Building, 4th floor, North corner
1) Acetic Acid-Class III B Combustible-2.5 liter; 4 per box; 7 boxes
Incompatible with strong oxidizers;  strong caustics; Hydrogen
Peroxide; Sodium Hydroxide; Potassium Persulfate and Sodium
Metabisulfite.
2) Sodium Hydroxide-Caustic soda-16 boxes
Incompatible with Flammable liquids; Alcohol; Trichoroethylene
stored with Methanol.
3) Potassium Persulfate-Oxidizer-(7) 55 gallon drums
Incompatible with acids; combustible material; oxidizable material
stored with Hydrogen Peroxide.
4) Sodium Metabisulfite/Sodium Disulfite-1.1 liter, 4 bottles
Incompatible with acids; oxidizing agents;  metals-stored with
Hydrogen Peroxide.
5) Chloroform-Depressant-2.0 liter, 20 bottles
Incompatible with caustics; Sodium; Potassium; Sodium Hydroxide;
Oxidizing Agents; Methanol stored with Sodium Hydroxide, and
Hydrogen Peroxide.
b-Outdoor Chemical Storage Cage, Southwest corner
1) Sulfuric Acid-Approximately 8 bottles
Incompatible with alcohol: Oxidizing Agents-stored with Ethyl
Acetate; Ammonium Hydroxide.
One feasible and acceptable abatement method, among others, to correct
this hazard is to separate the chemicals in storage according to type
and compatibility to each other as prescribed in the Material Safety
Data Sheets and National Fire Protection Accosiation, Chapter #49.

Issued

Mar 21, 1988

Abate by

Apr 5, 1988

Penalty

Initial $10,000 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 and/or
29 CFR 1910.106(h)(8)(i):  On or about 10/13/87 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 explosion/fire and inhalation of toxic vapors which could result in
serious/fatal bodily inuries:
a) On 10/13/87 a chemical explosion occurred at the Halar Polymer
Building Recovery System, rupturing the U-2 vessel and associated
equipment due to equipment fire.
A feasible and acceptable abatement method among others, to correct this
hazard is to institute a Preventative Maintenance Program that would
provide for the periodic inspection of equipment, i.e., Flanges, Pipes,
Valves, Gauges, Pressure Relief Valves, Pumps and Vessels, to detect
deterioration trends that would cause equipment to fail.
In addition the exclusion of air from the Halar Recovery System which
is critical since air can violent disproportionation of the
Chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE).

Issued

Mar 21, 1988

Abate by

Mar 24, 1988

Penalty

Initial $120,000 · Current $72,000 Reduced