OSHA Inspection: E.A. DION, INCORPORATED

Issued

May 22, 2000

Abate by

Aug 26, 2000

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,250 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety & 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
acutely exposed to hydrogen cyanide gas at concentrations which may
approach IDLH
(Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health):
Fire Dip area & adjacent areas:
On January 24, 2000, three employees were sent to the hospital and treated
for cyanide
poisoning after an employee had performed the fire dip process which
entailed mixing
sodium cyanide/water solution and hydrogen peroxide.  Hydrogen cyanide gas
was
formed and escaped from the fire dip enclosure where the mixing took place.
Among methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct
this hazard is to
establish and enforce the following:
1) Perform a job hazard analysis of the fire dip process to establish job
procedures under
routine and non-routine conditions and inform employees of them. Methods of
determination of respiratory hazards include but are not limited to
application of
mathematical approaches, personal air monitoring, and/or use of objective
data.  The job
hazard analysis includes identifying the worse case scenario i.e. improper
mixture of
sodium cyanide and hydrogen peroxide.  Where the employer cannot make a
reasonably
estimate the employee exposure, the employer shall consider the exposure
IDLH.
2) Develop and implement effective engineering controls which include
ventilation
sufficient to exhaust the quantities of hydrogen cyanide gas that was
identified as being
the worse case scenario.  Install a warning system equipped with an alarm
for detection
of dangerous levels of hydrogen cyanide gas.  Engineering controls include
adequately
containing the liquid sodium cyanide solution to prevent skin and membrane
contact.
3) Develop and implement written work practices that specify quantities of
product
needed and ensure that they applicable to the various types of metal and
quantities of the
metal pieces that are being cleaned.
"ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM".

Issued

May 22, 2000

Abate by

Jan 28, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $500 Reduced

Issued

May 22, 2000

Abate by

Jun 26, 2000

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,250 Reduced

Issued

May 22, 2000

Abate by

Jun 16, 2000

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,250 Reduced

Issued

May 22, 2000

Abate by

Jun 26, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $625 Reduced

Issued

May 22, 2000

Abate by

Jun 26, 2000

Issued

May 22, 2000

Abate by

Jun 16, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $625 Reduced

Issued

May 22, 2000

Abate by

Jun 9, 2000

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,250 Reduced

Issued

May 22, 2000

Abate by

Jun 16, 2000

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $375 Reduced

Issued

May 22, 2000

Abate by

Jun 16, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · Current $875 Reduced

Issued

May 22, 2000

Abate by

Jun 16, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $625 Reduced

Issued

May 22, 2000

Abate by

Jun 16, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $625 Reduced

Issued

May 22, 2000

Abate by

Jun 26, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $625 Reduced

Issued

May 22, 2000

Abate by

Jun 26, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,250 · Current $625 Reduced

Issued

May 22, 2000

Abate by

Jun 16, 2000

Penalty

Initial $1,750 · Current $875 Reduced

Issued

May 22, 2000

Abate by

Jun 16, 2000

Issued

May 22, 2000

Abate by

Jun 26, 2000

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,250 Reduced