OSHA Inspection: MG INDUSTRIES, INC.

Issued

Apr 1, 1999

Abate by

May 4, 1999

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $4,500

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 an oxygen deficient atmosphere (less than 19.5oxygen)
which may result in
injury to the brain and nervous system, permanent changes and impaired
functioning of the
brain, and death by asphyxiation.  On or about 11-2-98, in the building
housing both Tuff Stuff
Cryo Lab and Mail Run Courier Service, employees of Mail Run Courier
Service were exposed
to an oxygen deficient atmosphere.  Four (4) employees suffered effects of
exposure. Oxygen
levels were measured at 14within the Mail Run Courier offices, and at 8
within the
warehouse area where Tuff Stuff Cryo Lab is located.  Tuff Stuff operated
a cryogenic processor
which utilized liquid nitrogen from a 3,000 gallon storage tank located
outside
of the building.
MG Industries owns the liquid nitrogen storage tank and installed the tank
and associated piping.
The oxygen deficient atmosphere was created during an over-pressure event
in which an
estimated nine hundred (900) gallons of liquid nitrogen was released from
the storage tank into
the interior of the building.  The tank, associated piping, and
pressure-relief devices were
configured such that, on the day of the over-pressure event, the device
that relieved the over-
pressure was not one of the pressure relief devices located on the outside
of the building, but
was relieved via a pressure relief device inside the building.  It was
found that liquid Nitrogen
had been vented into the interior of the building between Sunday evening
and Monday morning.
Among other methods, some feasible and acceptable methods to abate this
hazard are to
configure the tank, associated piping, and pressure-relief devices such
that in the event of an
over-pressure event, the device that relieves the pressure is located on
the
outside of the building
and/or to ensure that all pressure relief devices vent to a safe place of
discharge.
***Certification and Documentation of Abatement Required***on

Issued

Apr 1, 1999

Abate by

Apr 7, 1999