OSHA Inspection: DAIRY FARMERS OF AMERICA, INC.

Issued

May 15, 1998

Abate by

Jun 4, 1998

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED
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 the recognized hazards of toxic inhalation
and contact
with corrosive/combustible chemicals due to the uncontrolled chemical
reaction and
chemical release caused by receiving a liquid organic acid anionic
sanitizer, trade name,
Acidet, into a tank containing a liquid inorganic acid detergent, trade
name, Hi Temp
Acid 445, causing the emergency evacuation of the plant and the
surrounding community
on 04-08-98.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods to correct these
hazards are:
(a) Revise the written operating procedures to address the specific
chemicals involved in
each receipt operation and the potential hazards associated with combining
chemicals.
(b) Establish procedures for management to follow in order to enforce the
written
procedures associated with employees checking the information contained on
the tagged
dome lids with the products listed on the Bill of Lading, ensuring the
chemical is
transferred into the proper tank.
(c) Establish a program to retrain management personnel and employees on
the hazards
associated with not checking the information contained on the tagged dome
lids of the
delivery trucks with the products listed on the Bill of Lading.
(d) Establish a program to retrain management personnel and employees on
the
hazards
associated with unlocking more than one receipt valve at a time during
chemical receipts.
(e) Establish a program to retrain management personnel and employees on
the hazards
associated with not monitoring the chemical receipt throughout the entire
process, and
the importance of stopping the receipt immediately upon observance of
problems.
(f) Establish procedures for management to follow in order to enforce the
written
procedures associated with employees monitoring the chemical receipts at
all times.
(g) Establish a program to retrain management personnel and employees on
the need for
wearing personal protective equipment during chemical receipt operations.
(h) Evaluate the use of compressed air during the receipt of chemicals for
items such as
but not limited to receiving a flammable or combustible chemical which may
create
an
air-enriched mixture within the flammability range of the chemical in the
vapor space of
the tank.(i) Revise the written operating procedures to include or
prohibit the use of compressed
air during the receipt of chemicals after the evaluation of the hazards
associated with this
process.
(j) Establish procedures for management to evaluate the employee's
continued knowledge
and use of the requirements contained in the written operating procedures,
and steps to
follow when discrepancies are discovered.

Issued

May 15, 1998

Abate by

Jun 4, 1998

Penalty

Initial $2,000 · Current $500 Reduced

Issued

May 15, 1998

Abate by

May 21, 1998

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,000 Reduced

Issued

May 15, 1998

Abate by

May 28, 1998

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $500 Reduced