OSHA Inspection: POLYMER PRODUCTS CO., INC.

Issued

Mar 29, 2004

Abate by

Mar 29, 2004

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $2,000 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 employees
were exposed to a fire and explosion hazards where an indoor gas hose and
connector were
concealed and not kept tight:
a)  Quality Control Lab - A concealed connector (worm clamp) came loose
from Tygon
tubing causing it to disconnect from the piping system and leak methane
gas.  Unable to
see the indoor gas hose connector had disconnected from the Bunsen burner,
an employee
used a starter to light the burner and a flash occurred and caused the
employee to suffer
burns, on or about 1/9/04.
ABATEMENT:  Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement
method
to correct this hazard is to have the connections to piping, regulators,
and
other
appliances always in the open and kept tight to prevent leakage.   NFPA
54-5.5.2(a) -
Indoor gas hose connectors shall not be concealed.
No abatement certification or documentation required.

Issued

Mar 29, 2004

Abate by

Mar 29, 2004

Penalty

Initial $1,225