OSHA Inspection: AMSTERDAM PRINTING & LITHO COMPANY

Issued

Dec 23, 2002

Abate by

Jan 25, 2003

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employmnent 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 a nitric acid and hydrogen gas vapor cloud, released
during an explosion of
incompatible chemicals in the magnesium plating process:
(a)On July 30, 2002, in the magnesium plate room, routine calibrations of
the sensor/probe were not performed causing the sensor/probe to fail in
detecting accurate levels of nitric acid during the neutralizing and
subsequent reclamation process of the waste solution in that the employer
allowed incompatible chemicals in the magnesium plating process.  The
nitric acid used in the etching process is incompatible with the resin in
the
zinc extraction cylinder unless properly neutralized.  These products were
allowed to mix and react creating heat and pressure, and eventually
causing the top of the zinc extraction cylinder to blow off.  Employees
were exposed to a vapor cloud  of nitric acid and hydrogen gas after the
explosion.
Feasible means of abatement among others would be:
1.  Install a second sensor/ pH probe as a backup in case of failure in the
first sensor/probe.
2.  Install an interlock on the system so that the solution is not
released into
the reclamation part of the process in case of a failure in the
sensor/probe.
3.  Make up an appropriate schedule for cleaning and calibration of the
sensor(s) based on specific chemicals and sensor probe manufacturer's
recommendations, and ensure that it is done and documented.
4.  Manually check the solution with litmus paper or hand-held pH indicator
to ensure the correct pH level is attained before allowing the solution to
be
released into the reclamation process.
5.  Update company's written standard operating proceduere for this
operation to include all above recommendations.
ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED FOR THIS ITEM

Issued

Dec 23, 2002

Abate by

Jan 25, 2003

Penalty

Initial $2,975 · Current $1,785 Reduced

Issued

Dec 23, 2002

Abate by

Jan 25, 2003

Issued

Dec 23, 2002

Abate by

Jan 25, 2003