OSHA Inspection: FARMER'S UNION OIL COMPANY

Issued

Dec 8, 1987

Abate by

Dec 28, 1987

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:
a) The hazards associated with transporting and transferring anhydrous
ammonia without adequate training in that on or about May 11, 1987,
an employee was burned by anhydrous ammonia while transferring the
product from a tank truck to a mobile farm tank after receiving only
a few minutes of verbal instruction.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct the
hazard would be to implement a training program for employees who work
with anhydrous ammonia. This program should include the following basic
essentials:
1) Establish a written operating procedure for the storage,
transportation and transfer of anhydrous ammonia.
2) Provide formal training to ensure that employees understand all
aspects of the written program.
3) Provide on-hands training in all aspects of the written procedure.
4) Verify the employees' ability to perform all operations safely prior
to allowing them to perform said operations without supervision.