OSHA Inspection: DOCK RESINS CORPORPORATION

Issued

Nov 27, 1992

Abate by

Jan 15, 1993

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $1,800 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:
On or about June 11, 1992, 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 fire and/or
explosion  while carrying out chemical reactor operations in that:
a- In the process building at Reactor #4, where a chemcial
reaction to produce an acrylic adhesive was being initiated,
the employer had not provided for adequate supervisory control
over reactant additions by chemical operators, so as to safely
control the chemical reactions within that reactor.  Due to
the lack of proper supervision, the initiator "Vaso" was
introduced rather than the required "Lupersol".  Thsi resulted
in an uncontrollable exotherm and fire.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods
to correct these hazards are as follows:
1- Establish a batch sheet with mandatory check-off provisions
for both the operator and supervisor which would prevent the
improper addition or lack of addition of reactants.  These
conditions could have caused instability in reactor systems.
2- Adequate training and oversight shall be provided by
management, which will properly instruct and familiarze
foremen and chemical operators in the check-off procedure
mentioned above, as well as other safety procedures
promulgated
by the company.