OSHA Inspection: ALLIED SIGNAL CORP.

Issued

May 20, 1999

Abate by

May 25, 1999

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $5,000 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)Fire and explosion from the release of combustible liquid vapors from
tank #8,
in that the tank and all tank appurtenances, including, but not limited to,
emergency vents (including venting to a safe location) sample valves and
dip
holes were not properly inspected and maintained to ensure that they
function
as intended, such as, but not limited to the following:
1)The sample valve (run off) was corroded and failed at its thread section.
2)The emergency vent hatch was prevented from opening as designed because
of
a catwalk extension installed over the hatch.  In addition, the openings
on top
of the tank was not designed to vent to a safe location.
3)The dip hole cover at the top of the tank was not of the self-closing
type, nor
was it of the liquid tight design.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable abatement methods to abate
these hazards
would include development and implementation of a program to inspect, test
and maintain the
quality and integrity of all critical equipment associated with processing
tanks including safe
venting locations in accordance with recognized industry practices, such
as the American
Petroleum Institute (API 750), NFPA 30 Code for Flammable and Combustible
liquids and
OSHA's Process Safety Management Standard 29 CFR 1910.119.