OSHA Inspection: AFFILIATED METALS

Issued

Jun 13, 1997

Abate by

Jul 1, 1997

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2310

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:
.........chemical burns while accepting/transferring sulfuric acid due to
the lack of a pressure
relief valve on the acid storage tank.  A pressure relief valve would
prevent excess pressure
from building up in the storage tank and associated piping and valves
during the
transfer/acceptance of sulfuric acid.
Employees who accept/transfer sulfuric acid are exposed to the hazard of
overpressurizing the
containment system and receiving chemical burns from the unexpected
release of sulfuric acid.
An employee was severely burned as a result of pressurized sulfuric acid
releasing from a
transfer pipe which failed under extreme pressure.  Unfired pressure
vessels
are required to have
pressure relief devices installed per ASME code section VIII, Div. 1
subsection UG-125.
Feasible and effective abatement can be expected to include, but is not
limited to:
1) Install engineering controls such as; pressure relief valve(s) for the
storage tank, pressure
regulator for the air supply and any other controls which would provide
additional safety features
to the system.
2) Develop written safe job procedures for accepting and transferring
sulfuric acid.
3) Provide training to affected employees regarding these written
procedures.
4) Implement a preventative maintenance schedule for acid transfer system
to assure its integrity.
DISCLAIMER:
a)  The employer is not limited to the abatement methods suggested by OSHA;
b)  The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all
cases;
c) The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an effective
abatement method.

Issued

Jun 13, 1997

Abate by

Jul 8, 1997

Penalty

Initial $1,375 · Current $688 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2310

Issued

Jun 13, 1997

Abate by

Jun 18, 1997

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2310

Issued

Jun 13, 1997

Abate by

Jul 8, 1997

Penalty

Initial $3,500

Hazardous substances 2310

Issued

Jun 13, 1997

Abate by

Jun 18, 1997

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

Hazardous substances 2310

Issued

Jun 13, 1997

Abate by

Jul 8, 1997

Hazardous substances 2310

Issued

Jun 13, 1997

Abate by

Jun 19, 1997

Hazardous substances 2310