OSHA Inspection: AMP M/A-COM, INC.

Issued

Apr 7, 1999

Abate by

May 24, 1999

Penalty

Initial $1,875 · Current $938 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:
(a) Location - Chemical Mixing Room:
On or about 3/4/99, employees were exposed to the hazard of a potential
violent
chemical reaction from storage of incompatible chemicals in the same area.
An 8-pint
container of ammonium hydroxide was in the same cabinet as a 15-lb
container of
sulfuric acid, a 7-lb bottle of nitric acid, a 14-lb container of
phosphoric acid, a container
of 100glacial acetic acie, a container of hydrogen peroxide, and other
chemicals.
Mixture of the base and the acids would cause a violent chemical reaction.
Mixture of
sulfuric acid and nitric acid could cause evolution of nitrogen oxides.
Mixture of nitric
acid (a strong oxidizer) and glacial acetic acid (a combustible liquid)
would
cause a
violent exothermic reaction.  Other dangerous reactions could occur from
the mixing of
other chemicals.
(b) Location - Chemical Mixing room:
On or about 3/4/99, employees were exposed to the hazard of a potential
toxic chemical
release from storage of incompatible chemicals in the same area.  A 2.5 kg
bottle of dry
sodium cyanide was stored in the same cabinet as a five gallon plastic
container of liquid
Metex nickel stripper, which contains 2ammonium hydroxide and which will
emit
ammonia gas when heated.  Ammonia is not compatible with cyanides.
(c) Location - Chemical Mixing room:
On or about 3/4/99, employees were exposed to the hazard of a potential
release of
hydrogen cyanide gas from the storage of a container of liquid cyanide
waste next to an
eyewash/safety shower.  It is possible that if this waste were wetted with
water, it could
cause a release of hydrogen cyanide gas.
Among other methods, one feasible abatement method to correct these
hazards is to
segregate incompatible chemicals into separate storage cabinets.

Issued

Apr 7, 1999

Abate by

May 24, 1999

Penalty

Initial $1,875