OSHA Inspection: CHEMTECH INC.

Issued

Jun 19, 2000

Abate by

Jul 22, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1430

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 dermal, eye, and inhalation exposures to
titanium oxychloride
resulting from an uncontrolled release of titanium oxychloride at Pump
House 9A:
a)Inside Pump House 9A.  The titanium oxychloride piping system, on the
suction
side of pump P-3THCL, was deficient in that:
(1) All necessary piping components were not utilized in construction of
the
piping system.  Specifically, a kynar flange connection was used as a
coupling
and not as a flange connection.  This portion of the piping system was
missing
a kynar flange connection, gasket, and bolting on or about 12/22/99.
(2) A recognized and accepted method of joining two different size pipe
sections
together was not utilized (i.e. using a reducer) on or about 12/22/99.
Specifically, glue was used to fill in the space that existed between a
one and one-
half (1 1/2) inch pipe and two (2) inch pipe that were fit together.  In
addition,
one of the pipe sections was made of Kynar which does not accept a glue
bond.
Among other methods, one feasible and accepted abatement method to correct
this hazard
is to construct, install, and inspect the piping system in accordance with
the following
established construction, installation, and inspection standards of
ANSI/ASME B31.3-
1999 Process Piping and the NIBCO Inc. Thermoplastic Piping Technical
Manual (PVC,
CPVC, PP, PVDF) - Publication 7-140-C dated 1994.
1.Chapter VI - Inspection, Examination, and Testing, Paragraph 340
Inspection,
Paragraph 340.2 - Responsibility for Inspection.
2.Chapter VII - Nonmetallic Piping and Piping Lined with Nonmetals,
Paragraph
A308 - Flanges, Blanks, Flange Facings,and Gaskets, Paragraph A308.2 -
Nonmetallic Flanges, Paragraph A308.2.1(a).
3.Chapter VII - Nonmetallic Piping and Piping Lined with Nonmetals,
Paragraph
A328 - Bonding of Plastics.
4.Chapter VII - Part 10 INSPECTION, EXAMINATION, TESTING, Paragraph
A341 Examination, Paragraph A342 Examination Personnel, Paragraph A343
Examination Procedures, Paragraph A344 Types of Examination, Paragraph A345
Testing
5. NIBCO Inc. Thermoplastic Piping Technical Manual (stated above).
NOTE: In addition to abatement certification, the employer is required to
submit abatement
documentation for this item in accordance with 29 CFR 1903.19.