OSHA Inspection: CROWN CORK & SEAL CO. INC.

Issued

Jan 4, 2002

Abate by

Jan 28, 2002

Penalty

Initial $8,000 · Current $5,000 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:
On November 22, 2001 an explosion occurred when flammable solvent vapors
accumulated and
exceeded the lower explosive limit (LEL), inadvertently igniting in zone 2
of the line #36 oven,
exposing the employees to the hazard of fire and explosion.
Excessive application of coating allowed vapor build-up within the oven in
excess of the lower
explosive limit (LEL).
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is
to:
Install and maintain a mechanical ventilation system in accordance with
NFPA 86-1999,
"Standard for Ovens and Furnaces", Sections 7-5 and 7-7.  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 shell be permitted to be decreased where a solvent vapor
concentration indicator and
controller is provided in accordance with Section 7-7.
The Crown Cork and Seal Company, Inc. was previously cited for a violation
of this
Occupational Safety and Health standard or its equivalent standard Section
5(a)(1) which was
contained in OSHA inspection number 303460299, citation number 1, item
number 1, issued on
August 31, 2001.
Additional abatement information is required for this item.