OSHA Inspection: GANES CHEMICAL

Issued

Aug 22, 2000

Abate by

Oct 30, 2000

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,100 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 which occurred while the employees were
loading a drier with a
material that contained heptane.
a). Establishment (BLDG 1) - Employees who were loading a drier with a
product which
contained heptane, were exposed to a flash fire and received severe burns
when the
heptane vapors ignited. Engineering controls and work practices were not
sufficient to
prevent a flash fire from starting inside the drier, (re: NFPA 77, Static
Electricity, Chap.
2).
A feasible method of abatement includes, but is not limited to; 1)
Installation of an
independent measure of the nitrogen blanket in the drier to ensure the
oxygen
level is
below that which will support combustion. 2). Investigate alternate means
and methods
of intermediate product packaging to minimize the potential for static
discharge when
handling these materials. 3). Provide physical chokes/rotary valves/fast
acting dampers
and valves to block any flame front that might be produced in the
enclosure areas. 4).
Provide explosion protection for all processes involving pouring/charging
of flammable
materials.
NOTE:ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.
See page 2,"Notification of Corrective Action" for instructions.