OSHA Inspection: SUMMIT LABS

Issued

Aug 31, 1989

Abate by

Dec 15, 1989

Penalty

Initial $200 · Current $200

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
unsafe laboratory procedures and inadequate ventilation creating the
hazards of explosion, fire and toxic vapors:
a) An employee of Summit Laboratories was exposed to explosions, fire
and undetermined levels of toxic gases due to inadequate ventilation
present during the improper mixing of sodium hypochlorite solution
and sulfamic acid and the subsequent accumulation of explosive gases
in the production area of Summit Labs on July 19, 1989.
ABATEMENT NORMALLY WILL BE MULTI-STEP AS FOLLOWS:
STEP 1: Effective administrative controls preventing the mixing of
chemicals with potential for uncontrolled chemical reaction or
for toxic fume generation will be implemented as an interim
measure until feasible engineering and/or administrative control
can be implemented preventing employee exposure to the hazards
addressed in this citation.
STEP 2: Submit to the Area Director a written detailed plan of abatement
outlining a schedule for the implementation of engineering and/
or administrative measures to control employee exposure to the
hazards referenced in this citation. The plan shall include, at
a minimum, target dates for the following actions which must be
consistent with the dates required by this citation:
a) Identification of hazardous chemicals requiring local exhaust
ventilation, and determination of safe laboratory procedures during
mixing and manufacturing.
b) Selection of optimum control methods and completion of design.
c) Procurement, installation and operation of selected control measures.
STEP 3: Abatement shall be considered complete when the ventilation and
administrative controls can reasonably eliminate the hazards
identified in this citation.

Issued

Aug 31, 1989

Abate by

Dec 15, 1989

Penalty

Initial $200 · Current $110 Reduced

Issued

Aug 31, 1989

Abate by

Dec 15, 1989

Issued

Aug 31, 1989

Abate by

Dec 15, 1989

Issued

Aug 31, 1989

Abate by

Dec 15, 1989

Penalty

Initial $200 · Current $110 Reduced

Issued

Aug 31, 1989

Abate by

Dec 15, 1989

Issued

Aug 31, 1989

Abate by

Dec 15, 1989