OSHA Inspection: DAP INC.

Issued

Dec 18, 2000

Abate by

Dec 21, 2000

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $2,500

Issued

Dec 18, 2000

Abate by

Dec 21, 2000

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $2,500

Issued

Dec 18, 2000

Abate by

Dec 21, 2000

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $2,500

Issued

Dec 18, 2000

Abate by

Jan 23, 2001

Penalty

Initial $55,000 · Current $10,000 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 chemical burns from improperly
stored Ammonium
Hydroxide:
a) Workplace, storage yard - Employees were subject to burns from the
violative
pressurized release of Ammonium Hydroxide that had been stored in direct
sunlight
and/or in temperatures in excess of 80 degrees (F). Occurred on or about
06/27/00.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods to correct the hazard
is to:
1) Relocate the plastic 55 gallon drum outside storage area to a
temperature
controlled
atmosphere and/or at the very minimal, to a consistent shaded area away
from heat
sources and monitor temperature readings to ensure that the product is
stored below
80 degrees (F) as recommended by the product manufacturer. This can be
accomplished by building a permanent open-sided canopy/shed shielding the
product
from the elements and provide natural ventilation as well. Also, install a
thermometer
in the vicinity of the stored product to aid in eliminating guessing games
concerning
storage temperatures.
2) Develop and implement a policy to ensure that pressure relief bungs are
installed
on all containers once they are accepted from the supplier into the
storage area.
3) Unless a less toxic can be substituted for the hazardous substance,
develop and
implement alternative engineering controls, such as but not limited to,
eliminate the
need for employees to manually open tightly sealed closed pressurized 55
gallon drum
containers. This can be accomplished by changing to either bulk delivery
into existing
plant piping or by a tote container, both of which would have back-flow
prevention
capabilities.
4) Develop and institute a policy to ensure employee recognition and
avoidance of
unsafe conditions and regulations applicable to their work environment
that would
control and/or eliminate hazards or exposures to illness and injury.
NOTE:ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM.
See page 2,"Notification of Corrective Action" for instructions.