OSHA Inspection: 3M (MINNESOTA MINING & MANUFACTURING)

Issued

Oct 31, 1989

Abate by

Nov 3, 1989

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $1,000

Issued

Oct 31, 1989

Abate by

Nov 3, 1989

Issued

Oct 31, 1989

Abate by

Nov 3, 1989

Issued

Oct 31, 1989

Abate by

Nov 3, 1989

Penalty

Initial $10,000 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Oct 30, 1989

Abate by

Nov 2, 1989

Penalty

Initial $10,000 · Current $10,000

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The
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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) The hazards of the fire and/or explosion in Building #4 on the third
floor, on or about July 3, 1989, due to the mixing of
chlorotrifluoroethylene and 1.1 difluoroethylene with oxygen which
created an uncontrolled polymerization reaction when the circulating
line on vessel 403-A23 was being returned to service after repair
and the lines were purged of air using a mixture of
chlorotrifluoroethylene and 1.1-difluoroethylens.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard would be to inert all lines prior to breaking them
open to the atmosphere or prior to putting them back into service.