OSHA Inspection: COMPOSITE PARTICLES, INC.

Issued

Jun 9, 2000

Abate by

Jun 19, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $525 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 the hazard of bursting or
exploding drums of chemicals.  The following practices or conditions
contributed to the hazard:
a)  The processing of the reactor drums of sodium chlorite with humidified
carbon dioxide reduced the
alkalinity of the chemical causing it to become less stable and causing
unknown amounts of chlorine
dioxide to be formed in these drums.
b)  The purging of the reactor drums after carbonation with unfiltered
plant air which could contain
contaminants which are incompatible with the sodium chlorite contained in
the drums and with the
chlorine dioxide forming in the drums.
Feasible means to abate these hazards include but are not limited the
following:
1)  Ending the practice of processing the reactor barrels with humidified
carbon dioxide which is
believed to reduce the alkalinity of the sodium chlorite making it less
stable, and which produces
chlorine dioxide gas and may cause other reactions.
2)  Separating the carbonation and purging process from other processes of
incompatible materials by
distance, walls and time.
3)  Using an electric powered forklift which will not produce carbon
monoxide gas.
4)  Placing a high efficiency purifying air filter on the inlet side of
the reactor barrel when purging the
barrel during processing.
5)  Storing all process materials in a clean environment and wipe them
down just before assembly.
6)  Bonding and grounding all process vessels when flowing materials which
could generate a static
charge.
7)  Storing chlorine dioxide in vessel which an engineer has designed for
the purpose which includes
adequate explosion venting for the concentration and amount of that gas
being stored.
Abatement certification required within 10 days after abatement date.  The
certification shall include a
statement that abatement is complete, date and method of abatement, and
states employees and their
representatives were informed of this abatement.

Issued

Jun 9, 2000

Abate by

Jun 19, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $525 Reduced

Issued

Jun 9, 2000

Abate by

Jun 19, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $525 Reduced