OSHA Inspection: BTR SEALING SYSTEMS

Issued

Sep 20, 1999

Abate by

Sep 23, 1999

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $3,000

General-duty citation text

Section 88.4 - Code of Iowa (1999)
88.4:  The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment
which was free
from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or
serious physical harm to
employees in that employees were exposed to continued occurrences of fires:
(a)BTR Iowa Operations, Keokuk Facility - The employer did not reduce or
eliminate recognized hazards that existed at the plant. Recongnized
hazards of
which the employer knew, or should have known, consisted of the continued
occurrence of fires at the nitrate salt bath in Department 14.  BTR
employees
were exposed to hazards associated with these salt bath fires, and were
consequently subject to injuries such as, burns, smoke inhalation, and
death. On
June 21, 1999 exposure to these hazards resulted in the death of one BTR
employee and serious burns on at least two others.
The occurrence of salt line fire hazards could have been reduced by
engineering
measures including, but not limited to, installation of fire supression
systems
on
exhaust or in the tank itself, increased meaintenace that effectively
removed  or
eliminated organic material present in the salt, or
elimination/substitution of the
salt line system.  Employee exposure to salt line fire hazards could have
been
reduced or eliminated by administrative maeasures including, but not
limited to,
use of proper personal protective equipment for  employees responding to
fires,
fire brigade and fire extinguisher training for employees responding to
fires, or
mandatory evacuation to a safe distance for affected employees.
This violation of the employer's general duty to provide a safe workplace
was
noted on or about July 22, 1999.

Issued

Sep 20, 1999

Abate by

Nov 5, 1999

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $3,000

Issued

Sep 20, 1999

Abate by

Nov 5, 1999

Issued

Sep 20, 1999

Abate by

Nov 5, 1999

Issued

Sep 20, 1999

Abate by

Dec 6, 1999

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $3,000

Issued

Sep 20, 1999

Abate by

Dec 6, 1999

Issued

Sep 20, 1999

Abate by

Nov 5, 1999

Penalty

Initial $3,000 · Current $3,000

Issued

Sep 20, 1999

Abate by

Nov 5, 1999

Issued

Sep 20, 1999

Abate by

Nov 5, 1999

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $2,000

Issued

Sep 20, 1999

Abate by

Nov 5, 1999

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $1,000

Issued

Sep 20, 1999

Abate by

Nov 5, 1999

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $1,000