OSHA Inspection: AIRCRAFT SERVICES INTERNATIONAL GROUP

Issued

Dec 17, 2001

Abate by

Jan 3, 2002

Penalty

Initial $4,500

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 hazard of burns:
(a)  Aircraft Services International Group, Denver, Colorado:  On or about
September 5, 2001 a fueler employee who was fueling a 777 Boeing British
Airways Jet suffered severe burns when the fuel nozzle broke away from the
jet's fuel connector. Jet A fuel flowed onto the Fueling Vehicle and a
subsequent fire and explosion occurred. The fueling vehicle exhaust system
was not designed, located and installed to minimize the hazard of fire in
the
event of spillage of fuel during the servicing of the aircraft. As
addressed in
NFPA 407 Standard for Aircraft fuel Servicing 1996 Edition, Section 2-3.5
Engine Exhaust System.
One method to abate this hazard is to provide suitable shielding to drain
possible
fuel spillage
or leakage away from exhaust system components safely. Exhaust gases shall
not be
discharged where they could ignite fuel vapors that might be released
during normal
operations or by accidental spillage or by leakage of fuel.
Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required
for this item.  (See
enclosed "Sample Abatement Certification" letter.)ation"