OSHA Inspection: QUANTUM USI DIV. TUSCOLA PLANT

Issued

Jan 16, 1991

Abate by

May 4, 1992

Penalty

Initial $640 · Current $320 Reduced

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 RECOGIZED HAZARDS THAT WERE CAUSING OR LIKELY TO CAUSE DEATH
OR SERIOUS PHYSICAL HARM TO EMPLOYEES IN THAT EMPLOYEES WERE EXPOSED TO:
THE EMPLOYER DID NOT PROVIDE AN ADEQUATELY DESIGNED POSTIVE PRESSURE
CONTROL ROOM TO PROTECT ETHYLENE UNIT PERSONNEL AGAINST FIRE, EXPLOSION
AND/OR THE INHALATION OF TOXIC CHEMICALS SUCH AS BENZENE AND ETHYLENE.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO
CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS:
A) COMPLY WITH THE 1989 NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION STANDARD
CHAPTER 3, FOR PURGED AND PRESSURIZED ENCLOSURES FOR ELECTRICAL
EQUIPMENT, NFPA 496, AND
1) INSTALL AN AIR FILTER SYSTEM THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE BUILDUP OF
HARMFUL LEVELS OF BENZENE AND FLAMMABLE GASES.
2) INSTALL MONITORS FOR BENZENE AND OXYGEN TO MONITOR AIR QUALITY.
3) PROVIDE DUCTING FOR AIR INTAKE AWAY FROM THE CONTROL ROOM TO AN AREA
AWAY FROM THE PROCESS PLANT.
B) SITE AND RETROFIT THE UNIT CONTROL ROOM CONSISTENT WITH THE
MANUFACTURING CHEMIST ASSOCIATION GUIDE SG-22, "SITING AND
CONSTRUCTION OF NEW CONTROL HOUSES FOR CHEMICAL MANUFACTURING
PLANTS" AND THE INDUSTRIAL RISK INSURER "GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR SPACING IN REFINERIES PETRO-CHEMICAL PLANTS, GASOLINE PLANTS,
TERMINALS, OIL PUMP STATIONS, AND OFF SHORE PROPERTIES."
3) MECHANICAL VENTILATION OF THE CONFINED SPACE PRIOR TO ENTRY AND
CONTINUED VENTILATION TO PROVIDE A SAFET ATMOSPHERE, WHEN DETERMINED
NECESSARY AS DESCRIBED IN (2) ABOVE.
4) TESTING THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE CONFINED SPACE PRIOR TO ENTRY AND ON A
REGULAR BASIS FOR THE PRESENCE OF SUFFICIENT OXYGEN (19.5%) AND
ABSENCE OF HAZARDOUS LEVELS OF TOXIC COMBUSTIBLE GASES OR VAPORS,
WHEN DETERMINED NECESSARY AS DESCRIBED IN (2) ABOVE.
5) ESTABLISHING EMERGENCY RESCUE PROCEDURES WITH A REQUIREMENT THAT
TRAINED PERSONNEL ARE AVAILABLE AND ARE STATIONS OUTSIDE THE CONFINED
SPACE WITH PROPER EQUIPMENT TO PROVIDE FOR THE RESUCE OF PERSON
ENTERING THE SPACE AS DETERMINED NECESSARY IN (2) ABOVE. SUCH
EQUIPMENT MUST INCLUDE A SAFETY HARNESS AND LIFELINE WITH PROVISIONS
FOR HOISTING EMPLOYEES FROM THE CONFINED SPACE. IF ENTRY IS REQUIRED
FOR A RESCUE, THE RESCUING EMPLOYEE MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH APPROPRIATE
RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT AND OTHER APPROPRIATE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT.
6) TRAINING OF ANY AND ALL EMPLOYEES REQUIRED TO ENTER THE CONFINED
SPACES. THIS TRAINING SHALL INCLUDE PROCEDURES REQUIRED PRIOR TO
ENTRY AND THE HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH WORK IN CONFINED SPACES.

Issued

Jan 16, 1991

Abate by

May 4, 1992

Penalty

Initial $640 · Current $320 Reduced