OSHA Inspection: AMPS WELDING AND MACHINE

Issued

Oct 26, 2001

Abate by

Nov 1, 2001

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $600 Reduced

General-duty citation text

SCRR 71-112A: Failed to furnish a place of employment which is free of
recognized hazards
which may cause death or serious physical harm to his employees and comply
with this
regulation and other occupational safety and health rules and regulations
promulgated under
Chapter 15 of Title 41, Code of Laws, State of South Carolina, 1976, as
amended,
as
follows:
A.  Employer knew or should have known that employees welding on or
standing near tank
number 245, part of the ethylene glycol recovery system, in Building SL-12
were exposed to
the hazards of fire and explosion by welding metal clip on tank top which
contained ethylene
glycol on or about August 14, 2001.  A feasible and useful method to
correct this hazard,
among other methods, is to ensure tank is cleaned so as to remove any
explosive atmosphere
that may develop inside tank in accordance with NFPA 51B 3-1 and 3-1.1.
B.  Employer knew or should have known that employees were exposed to fire
and explosion
hazards when welding metal clip onto tank number 245 containing ethylene
glycol on or
about August 14, 2001.  A feasible and useful method, among other methods
to correct this
hazard, is to inspect tank and surrounding work area and designate
precautions to be
followed in granting authorization to proceed in the form of a written
permit or other
equivalent means in accordance with NFPA 51B, paragraph 3-2.
C.  Employer knew or should have known that installing hoist on ethylene
glycol process
pipe near tank number 245 in building SL-12 at Nan-Ya Plastic, South
Carolina Plant
exposed welder and helper to the hazard of being struck by falling load
and hoist due to pipe
collapse as process pipe was not intended for or to be used as anchorage
for a hoist.  A
feasible and useful method to correct this hazard, among other methods, is
to use a lifting
device  or other support structure having a load rating at least equal to
that of the hoist (one
ton) in accordance with ANSI B30 16-1973, 16-1.1.3.1.