OSHA Inspection: ENTERPRISE COMPANIES DIV. VALSPAR CORP.

Issued

Jun 29, 1987

Abate by

Aug 5, 1987

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $1,000

General-duty citation text

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:
On April 8, 1987, on the third floor of building #2, at tank #2212,
employees were exposed to the hazards of fires and explosion from
hazardous accumulations of flammable vapors produced while cleaning
the tank with a pressurized power solvent spray system that contained
Xylene and MEK. In addition, the spray system was not electrically
interconnected (bonded) with the tank, nor were the hazardous
flammable vapors that were produced, effectively vented to a safe
location.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct these
hazards is:
a) The cleaning of tanks or vessels which have contained flammable or
combustible liquids shall only be done under the supervision of
persons who understand the fire and explosion potential, assisted
by properly trained employees, in order to safely carry out the
operation.
b) The cleaning of tanks of vessels shall be accomplished by one of the
following methods:
1) When the product is water soluble, the cleaning operation shall be
accomplished by filling with water and draining, repeating the
operation several times.
2) When needed, a suitable hot alkali solution or a non-flammable
cleaning agent shall be used.
3) Where alkali cleaners are not feasible or safe, a suitable flammable
solvent agitated in the interior of a closed vessel to be cleaned may
be used, provided the vapor space is reliably inerted prior to adding
the solvent.
4) Train the affected employees in the established methods and
procedures.
c) Provide a suitable exhaust ventilation system, arranged to take
suction at floor level, to prevent accumulation of flammable vapors
in the work area.
d) Provide a combustible gas/vapor monitoring and detecting system to
warn of hazardous conditions created by elevated levels of
combustible gases or vapors.