OSHA Inspection: VARN PRODUCTS CO., INC.

Issued

Jun 27, 1986

Abate by

Jun 29, 1986

Penalty

Initial $480 · Current $480

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
severe burns, concussions, multiple traumatic injuries and/or death due
to the hazards of fire and explosion resulting from the
overpressurization of a Disti Distillation Unit due to thermal
explosion or decomposition of a high speed etching solution while
attempting to extract its water content.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is to establish administrative controls over the
work being performed that will include, but not necessarily be limited
to, the following provisions:
1) Establish detailed descriptions and Standard Operating procedures for
solvent reclaiming and/or water extraction operations to assure safe
processing within controllable limits and to provide for safe
shutdown of equipment in the event of abnormal conditions.
These procedures should address the following:
a) Review of Material Safety Data Sheets, technical information, the
physical process involved and the equipment to be utilized taking
into consideration fire, explosion, stability, reactivity and health
information of the blended mixtures to be reclaimed or extracted in
order to determine their suitablility for this process.
b) Development of normal operating procedures for the process that will
include a defined sequence of operating steps, protective equipment
requirements for operators and practices for safe operation.
c) Development of emergency shutdown procedures that will define
abnormal operating conditions and address safe shutdown of equipment
and the removal of residual flammable, unstable, corrosive or toxic
materials.
2) All affected management, supervisory and employee personnel shall be
instructed and trained in the Standard Operating Procedures developed
for solvent reclaiming and water extraction operations.
3) Periodically evaluate the Standard Operating Procedures to determine
their continued adequacy.  Any changes to these procedures should be
thoroughly documented and reviewed.
Personnel shall be trained in any revisions before they are implemented.

Issued

Jun 27, 1986

Abate by

Aug 27, 1986