OSHA Inspection: MONSANTO POLYMER PRODUCTS CO.

Issued

May 13, 1986

Abate by

Sep 16, 1986

Penalty

Initial $800 · Current $800

Hazardous substances 0120

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) Employees were exposed to potential sudden splashes of acrylonitrile
(AN) from failure of transer and cooling systems such as occurred on
April 5, 1986 when, due to a gasket failure at a heat exchanger in
Building #9, 100 gallons of liquid AN, under pressure, sprayed out
into the building and measures had not been taken to prevent or
anticipate such releases.
Examples of the preventive actions which, among others, would greatly
reduce or eliminate these types of release are:
1) Regular visual inspection of piping, pump, and associated transfer
and cooling systems including all seals and gaskets;
2) A preventive maintenance program on all equipment involved in the
handling of liquid AN which includes periodic, regular maintenance/
replacement of such expected wear items as seals gaskets;
3) Use of appropriate gasket material for An systems which will limit
releases of AN in the event of gasket failure such as spiral wound
gaskets;
4) Proper design of transfer systems for AN to allow relief of over
pressures back through the pump or an automatic high pressure sensing
shutoff on the transfer pump controls.

Issued

Apr 22, 1986

Abate by

Apr 25, 1986

Penalty

Initial $600

Hazardous substances 0120