OSHA Inspection: HALOCARBON PRODUCTS CORPORATION

Issued

Jul 25, 1989

Abate by

Sep 27, 1989

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $750 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
the hazard of inhalation of chloro-cracker trap material:
a) Employees in the Oils Section were exposed and potentially exposed to
hazardous concentrations of 1,1,2,3,3-pentafluoro, 3-chloro-1-propene
(PFCP) during the processing of chloropolymer cracker trap material.
Exposure to PFCP has been shown to cause pulmonary fibrosis,
pulmonary edema hemorrahaging, and/or death.
On or about 2/1/89.
One feasible means of abatement among others would be to:
1) Provide a ventilated secondary enclosure of all pipes, lines, valves,
and vessels used to contain or process material containing PFCP.
2) Ensure that all piping and lines including reactor sampling lines,
and feed lines, etc. are suitable for permanent type use and contain
no temporary attachments.
3) Remove all obsolete or non-functional valves and piping.
4) Ensure that all valves, etc., are clearly labeled as to their
function.
5) Ventilate these secondary enclosures to a remote and safe location
perferably through a scrubber suitable for the use.
6) Monitor the airspace of these secondary enclosures to specifically
detect leaks of the PFCP at the lowest feasible level.
7) Provide for emergency procedures for shutdown in the event of leak
detection including the installation of remotely actuated devices.
8) Conduct preventive maintenance on a regular basis on entire system.
9) Install knock-out pots for pressure vessels G-551 and G-552 to
containing any accidental release.

Issued

Jul 25, 1989

Abate by

Sep 27, 1989

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $1,000

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
the hazard of overpressure and failure of pressure vessels:
a) The Oils Section: Pressure vessels were not protected with
appropriate overpressure devices. Rupture disks present on the
vessels were not free from backpressure.
One feasible means of abatement, among others, would be to establish
a preventive maintenance program for all pressure vessels which
includes:
1) Frequent checks and bleed-off of backpressure between rupture disk
and pressure relief valves.
2) Assurance that all rupture disks meet ASME UG-127 requirements
including being tagged with a stamped bursting pressure at a
specified disk temperature.
3) Assurance thatall pressure vessels have been marked within
conformance with ASME requirements as to pressure and temperature
limits.
Observed on or about 3/22/89

Issued

Jul 25, 1989

Abate by

Sep 27, 1989

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $1,000

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
the hazard of inhalation of D.F.O. materials:
a) Employees in the Oils Section were exposed and potentially exposed to
hazardous concentrations of low molecular weight brominated
fluorocarbons, bromine, and by-products during the processing of
brominated fluorocarbons. Componenets of this complex mixture have
have been shown to cause damage to internal organs and death in
animal studies.
Observed on or about 5/11/89.
One feasible means of abatement, among others, would be to:
1) Provide a closed system of all pipes, lines, valves and vessels used
to contain or process material containing brominated fluorocarbons
and by-products including cracker trap material.
2) Ensure that all piping and lines are suitable for permanent type use
and contain no temporary attachments.
3) Ensure that all valves, lines, etc. are clearly labeled as to their
function.
4) Ensure that all transfer operations are conducted in an enclosed
system.
5) Monitor the airspace around these enclosures to specifically detect
leaks of brominated fluorocarbons at the lowest feasible level.
6) Provide for emergency procedures for shutdown in the event of leak
detection including the installation of remotely actuated devices.
7) Conduct preventive maintenance on a regular basis on entire systems.
8) Based upon a complete hazard determination, secondary enclosures may
be required.

Issued

Jul 25, 1989

Abate by

Oct 27, 1989

Penalty

Initial $1,000

Issued

Jul 25, 1989

Abate by

Jul 31, 1989

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $1,000

Issued

Jul 25, 1989

Abate by

Aug 28, 1989

Issued

Jul 25, 1989

Abate by

Aug 11, 1989

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $750 Reduced

Issued

Jul 25, 1989

Abate by

Aug 11, 1989

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $1,000

Issued

Jul 25, 1989

Abate by

Aug 28, 1989

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $1,000

Issued

Jul 25, 1989

Abate by

Aug 28, 1989

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $1,000

Issued

Jul 25, 1989

Abate by

Aug 7, 1989

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $1,000

Issued

Jul 25, 1989

Abate by

Oct 27, 1989

Penalty

Initial $10,000 · Current $10,000

Issued

Jul 25, 1989

Abate by

Aug 28, 1989

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $1,000

Issued

Jul 25, 1989

Abate by

Aug 28, 1989

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $1,000