OSHA Inspection: AUCHTER INDUSTRIAL VAC SERVICE INC.

Issued

Jun 10, 1993

Abate by

Jun 15, 1993

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,375 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: On
or about 2/23/93, 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 of burns and smoke inhalation
from a fire which started during overhead splash filling of a tank
trailer with gasoline without static protection to prevent the buildup
and release of static charges:
a- GATX Tank Farm, Getty Butane Area - Gasoline vapors ignited
at the dome opening of a tank trailer during the pressure
transfer of gasoline from a vacuum tank truck through a 2" hose
into the tank trailer.  The resulting fire injured one employee
and damaged/destroyed two vacuum tank trucks and one tank
trailer.
A feasible and acceptable method, among others, to correct this
hazard, is:
1- Prohibit splash filling of tank vehicles with flammable
liquids through open domes.  Load/unload tank vehicles through
closed bottom connections.
2- Utilize downspout which extends to near the bottom of the
tank and ensure adequate static protection if tank vehicle
needs to be loaded through open dome with flammable liquid.
3- Ensure bonding and grounding of tank vehicles before the
dome covers are reaised and during flammable liquid transfer
operations.
4- Review the concepts of bonding and grounding of tank
vehicles with employees.

Issued

Jun 10, 1993

Abate by

Jun 15, 1993

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $685 Reduced