OSHA Inspection: CROWN CORK & SEAL CO. INC.

Issued

Aug 31, 2001

Abate by

Sep 26, 2001

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did
not furnish to each of his employees, 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: On or about April 16, 2001, employees of Crown
Cork and
Seal were exposed to the hazard of fire and/or explosion when vapors of
flammable paint and
solvents were inadvertently ignited by the oven heating system on line
#36, resulting in an
explosion.
The curing ovens were operable without the use of the provided mechanical
ventilation, thus
allowing vapor build-up within the oven in excess of the lower explosive
limits (LEL).
Moreover, the oven was not equipped with safety control circuitry such
that loss of
ventilation or airflow would shut down the heating system of the affected
section and shut
down the continuous feed conveyor.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazards
is to:
Install and maintain a mechanical ventilation system in accordance with
NFPA 86 - 1999,
"Standard for Ovens and Furnaces", Sections 5-5, and 7-5, and 7-7, so that
loss of
ventilation or airflow will immediately shut down the heating system or
the particular oven
section affected or, if necessary, loss of ventilation shall shut down the
entire oven heating
system as well as the conveyor.  In continuous process ovens, the safety
ventilation rate shall
be designed, maintained, and operated to prevent vapor concentrations in
the oven exhaust
from exceeding 25 percent of the LEL. The safety ventilation rate shall be
permitted to be
decreased where a solvent vapor concentration indicator and controller is
provided in
accordance with Section 7-7.
Additional abatement information is required for this item.