OSHA Inspection: SCALTECH INC.

Issued

Jun 2, 2000

Abate by

Jul 20, 2000

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,625 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 flash fire caused by ignition of flammable vapors by an
electrical spark from
a faulty control panel:
a). Establishment (Energy Recovery Facility) - Employees who were
operating a refinery
sludge to fuel facility were burned by a flashfire because the employer
failed to maintain
the gasket seals on the slurry drier. Flammable vapors escaping from the
slurry drier
were ingested by the electrical control panel because the employer failed
to maintain the
positive pressure environment inside the control panel (RE: NFPA #496).
This defect
was not detected because the employer failed to maintain a magnehelic
gauge which
monitored the internal pressure in the electrical control panel. On or
about
03/01/00.
A feasible method of abatement includes, but is not limited to, 1).
Relocation of the
control panel to a less hazardous location, 2). Providing a secure means
of pressurizing
the interior of the control panel and 3). Performing regular, periodic
inspections of the
system to ensure proper function of seals, detectors and alarms.
ABATEMENT NOTE: Among other methods, two feasible and acceptable means of
abatement would be to install additional permanent gas monitors at the
facility. The
second means of abatement would be to relocate the control panel outside
the vapor
generation zone.
NOTE:ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.
See page 2,"Notification of Corrective Action" for instructions.