OSHA Inspection: W.J. MURPHY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INCORPORATED

Issued

Jul 9, 2001

Abate by

Oct 31, 2001

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

Issued

Jul 9, 2001

Abate by

Oct 31, 2001

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

Issued

Jul 9, 2001

Abate by

Oct 31, 2001

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 Reduced

Issued

Jul 9, 2001

Abate by

Sep 22, 2001

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $1,750 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 presence of hazardous chemicals, gases, explosives,
flammable materials or
similarly dangerous substances was apparent or suspected, testing and
purging was not
performed in order to eliminate the hazards before demolition was started.
Warehouse area, 40 Grissom Road, Plymouth: The employer did not test and
purge pipes in a
former chemical manufacturing facility before directing three employees to
cut pipes which were
labeled: `Toluene', `MEK Solvent', `Cyclohexanone' and `Spent Solvent'
which are flammable
liquids.  The pipes were not filled with water nor thoroughly cleaned and
ventilated and tested
before the cutting and demolition began.  As a result, sparks from the
pipe cutting operation
ignited the flammable liquids and started a fire.