OSHA Inspection: GEORGIA PACIFIC CORP. - PORT HUDSON

Issued

Oct 3, 1996

Abate by

Oct 8, 1996

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $3,375 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)  Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Plains Port Hudson Road, Zachary LA:
Following the emergency
shutdown of the Number 2 black liquor recovery boiler on July 6,1996, and
consistent with established
company guidelines, employees performed a hand wash operation of the smelt
bed on July 7, 1996, to
detect the presence of molten smelt, exposing employees to the hazards of
burns or death from
heat/fire/explosion.
Research of industry-wide practice indicates that other feasible and
acceptable methods exist that are
routinely used to eliminate the hazard.  Feasible and acceptable methods
for smelt bed cool down does not
limit the process to hand wash only, but includes steam lancing, C02
lancing, thermocouples, and the factor
of time.
(b)  Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Plains Port Hudson Road, Zachary LA:
During the water wash process
of the Number 2 black liquor recovery boiler, employees were allowed to
perform routine operation and
maintenance functions, exposing employees to the hazard of fire/explosion
as a result of the smelt water
explosion that occurred July 7, 1996.
Research of industry wide-practice indicates that a feasible and
acceptable method exists that eliminates the
hazard.  A feasible and acceptable method is to implement a procedure to
clear the boiler area of
employees that are not directly associated with the water wash operation
when the water wash procedure
is underway.

Issued

Oct 3, 1996

Abate by

Oct 9, 1996

Penalty

Initial $1,800 · Current $1,485 Reduced