OSHA Inspection: AZTEC CATALYST CO.,DIV OF CATALYSTS RESOURCES INC.

Issued

Feb 3, 1994

Abate by

Feb 8, 1994

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,000 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
recognized hazards that
were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to:
The hazard of an explosion/fire and fatalities in that on or about July
8, 1993, and August 27,
1993, they were working in building #7 and #17 which were not spaced 50'
apart as required
by the 1993, NFPA 43B code for the storage of organic peroxide
formulations per Par 210.1
and Par 5.3.  These buildings that contained packaged Class II organic
peroxides, were occupied
and were spaced 20' apart.
Among others, a feasible and useful method to correct this hazardous
condition would be to
space building #7 and #17 fifty (50') feet or more apart.

Issued

Feb 3, 1994

Abate by

Feb 8, 1994

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employment which were free from recognized hazards that were
causing or likely to
cause death or serious physical harm to employ in that employees were
exposed to:
In that on or before August 27, 1993, employees were exposed to the
hazard of an explosion/fire
when dry running electromagnetic centrifical pumps which when overheated
could ignite and
explode the organic peroxide product being pumped.  The two pumps were
(a) #P104 and (b)
#P105.
Among other methods, a feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is to:
(1)  Provide an electrical interlock between supply valves and the pumps
to only permit pump
operation when the supply valve is open.
(2)  Provide heat sensor cut outs and alarms on these pumps which turn
the
pumps off when
overheated and sound an alarm.

Issued

Feb 3, 1994

Abate by

Feb 8, 1994

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,000 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
recognized hazards that
were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to:
In that on or before August 27, 1993, employees were exposed to the
hazard of an
explosion/fire.  Employer was not in control of failing equipment when
leaving process buildings
unmonitored.  The failure of pumps, mixers and contaminates in pumps or
vessels could cause
uncontrolled exothermic temperature rise and ignition of organic
peroxides.
Among other methods, a feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct the hazard is to:
(1)  Require one process operator to remain in the process building at
all
times during operating
a liquid process.
(2)  Install sufficient safety systems (e.g. interlocks, detection or
suppression systems) to
maintain control of the liquid process and its equipment.

Issued

Feb 3, 1994

Abate by

Feb 8, 1994

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,000 Reduced

Issued

Feb 3, 1994

Abate by

Feb 8, 1994

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,000 Reduced

Issued

Feb 3, 1994

Abate by

Feb 8, 1994

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,000 Reduced

Issued

Feb 3, 1994

Abate by

Feb 8, 1994

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,000 Reduced

Issued

Feb 3, 1994

Abate by

Feb 8, 1994

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,000 Reduced