OSHA Inspection: DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY

Issued

May 30, 2001

Abate by

Jan 2, 2002

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $4,500

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 a hazard of fire:
a)In that employees were exposed to leaks on the hot oil heater that were
not
repaired promptly. A leak reported February 8, 2001, had not been repaired
prior
to explosion and fire on February 20, 2001. The maintenance log listed the
priority as 0.1 which is the highest priority
One feasible and acceptable method of abatement would be for the Poplar
Bluff
site to review and clarify its maintenance log procedures, including
appropriate
prioritization, for Downtherm leaks with all affected employees.
Abatement verification is required for this violation.  The abatement
certification
sheet is
enclosed with the citation(s).n

Issued

May 30, 2001

Abate by

Jan 2, 2002

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $2,250

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 a hazard of fire:
a) In that employees were exposed to a fire hazard when fibrous insulation
was not
removed from areas where hot oil leaks occurred.
One feasible and acceptable method of abatement would be for the company
to remove
all fibrous insulation from the piping on the hot oil system as listed in
the operators manual for
the Fulton Model 0520A #81160 that saturated insulation may ignite when
exposed to air and
heat. The MSDS for the oil, DOWTHERM, lists spills of oil on hot fibrous
insulation may lead
to the lowering of the autoignition temperatures possibly resulting in
spontaneous combustion.
Abatement verification is required for this violation.  The abatement
certification sheet
is enclosed with the citation(s).

Issued

May 30, 2001

Abate by

Jan 2, 2002

Penalty

Initial $2,250 · Current $2,250