OSHA Inspection: GAF FISHERIES, INC.

Issued

Sep 17, 1997

Abate by

Oct 6, 1997

Penalty

Initial $825 · Current $495 Reduced

Hazardous substances X100

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:
Employees working on the freeze line were exposed to the recognized
potential hazard of oxygen deficiency created by the use of liquid
nitrogen, a simple asphyxiant, as the means to freeze fish.  The
employer did not take adequate measures to control employee(s)
exposure, in that adequate ventilation systems and continual
monitoring of the oxygen level(s) at both ends of the freeze line
was not conducted.
The potential for oxygen deficiency was demonstrated on August 15,
1997 when OSHA measured the oxygen level to be as low as 19.2
Recognized and feasible means of abatement to correct this hazard
include:
(a)Installation and use of adequate ventilation at all times
during operation as recommended by the Compressed Gas
Association (CGA) standard CGA P-12 Safe Handling of
Cryogenic Liquids, 1993, with particular attention to
section 3.9.2 Protective Equipment and 3.9.4 Multiple
precautions for oxygen-deficient areas.
(b)Installation and use of appropriate monitoring equipment
with alarms to constantly monitor the oxygen content as
recommended by the Compressed Gas Association (CGA)
standard CGA P-12 Safe Handling of Cryogenic Liquids,
1993, with particular attention to section 3.9.4 Multiple
precautions for oxygen-deficient areas and CGA P-14
Accident Prevention in Oxygen-Rich and Oxygen-Deficient
Atmospheres, 1992, with particular attention to the
entire part of section 6 Detection of oxygen-rich or
oxygen-deficient atmospheres.

Issued

Sep 17, 1997

Abate by

Oct 6, 1997

Penalty

Initial $825 · Current $495 Reduced

Issued

Sep 17, 1997

Abate by

Oct 6, 1997

Issued

Sep 17, 1997

Abate by

Oct 6, 1997

Issued

Sep 17, 1997

Abate by

Oct 6, 1997

Issued

Sep 17, 1997

Abate by

Oct 6, 1997

Issued

Sep 17, 1997

Abate by

Oct 6, 1997

Penalty

Initial $825 · Current $495 Reduced