OSHA Inspection: TAURUS SERVICE, INC.

Issued

Mar 31, 1997

Abate by

May 5, 1997

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1900

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 the hazards associated with an oxygen deficient atmosphere
which may include
asphyxiation when working within unventilated vehicles containing storage
containers of liquid
nitrogen.
a)AT THE WORK LOCATION, PAMELIA, NY, ON OR ABOUT 12-06-96:
AN EMPLOYEE OF TAURUS SERVICES INC., AND A CUSTOMER
WERE CONDUCTING BUSINESS INSIDE A FORD CARGO VAN OWNED
AND OPERATED BY TAURUS SERVICES INC.  WITHIN THE VAN
THERE WERE NUMEROUS CONTAINERS KNOWN AS "DEWARS",
CONTAINING LIQUID NITROGEN.  IN ADDITION, A 100 GALLON
STORAGE TANK OF LIQUID NITROGEN WAS FOUND IN THE
VEHICLE. THE STORAGE TANK WAS FOUND TO BE VENTED TO
THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE AND TWO OF THE "DEWARS"
CONTAINERS WERE OPEN.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE METHODS TO
ABATE THIS HAZARD IS TO:
1)Provide written procedures covering the safe handling, storing and use
of the
liquid nitrogen,
and:
2)Provide adequate mechanical ventilation of the vehicle to prevent oxygen
deficient
atmospheres,
or
3)Separate the liquid nitrogen storage and transfer area from the passenger
compartment and ventilate the storage compartment,
or
4)Provide monitoring of the atmosphere for levels of hazardous gas and or
the lack
of oxygen, and provide an alarm system to warn employee of the presence of
hazardous gasses and the depletion of oxygen.

Issued

Mar 31, 1997

Abate by

Apr 23, 1997

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,100 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1900

Issued

Mar 31, 1997

Abate by

Apr 23, 1997

Hazardous substances 1900