OSHA Inspection: VALMONT COATINGS-OKLAHOMA GALVANIZING

Issued

Feb 28, 2005

Abate by

Jun 1, 2005

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,200 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer does not
ensure employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized
hazards that are
causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees.
Employees were
exposed to the hazard of chemical burns from concentrated sulfuric acid
and the hazard of being
struck-by debris caused by the leakage and/or rupture failure of a storage
tank operating under
pressure:
The employer pressurizes storage tanks which are not designed to be
pressure vessels.  This
violation most recently occurred on or about August 30, 2004 and times
prior thereto, when the
Plant 1 Sulfuric Acid Storage Tank was pressurized at over 15 psig.  The
storage tank was not
designed and built as a pressure vessel.  Sulfuric acid was transferred
from the storage tank to
the dip tanks by pressurizing the storage tank with compressed plant air.
Feasible methods to protect employees may include, but are not limited to,
the
following:
1.Store sulfuric acid in an atmospheric or non-pressurized system.
2.Transfer sulfuric acid from storage tank to dip tanks using gravity
flow.  If gravity flow
cannot be utilized, transfer sulfuric acid from storage tank to dip tanks
utilizing a pump
specifically recommended for sulfuric acid service.
***Pursuant to 1903.19, the employer must submit an abatement plan within
30 days
describing the steps it is taking to ensure compliance, and its schedule
for completing these
actions.  The abatement plan must include a description of how these steps
protect
employees from the hazard of chemical burns and/or struck-by debris caused
by the leakage
and/or rupture failure of a sulfuric acid storage tank; the plan must
describe industry
recommended practices, experts consulted, etc., during the creation of the
abatement plan.
The abatement plan must describe future steps the employer will take to
ensure
the
integrity and safety of the sulfuric acid storage tank, such as, but not
limited to,
maintenance and operating procedures developed to ensure continued
protection of
employees from the hazards caused by the leakage and/or rupture failure of
a sulfuric acid
storage tank.  Progress reports must be submitted every 30 days describing
steps that have
been achieved, whether it is meeting the schedule set forth in its
abatement plan, and if not
why not.***nt

Issued

Feb 28, 2005

Abate by

Apr 2, 2005

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,200 Reduced

Issued

Feb 28, 2005

Abate by

Apr 2, 2005

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,200 Reduced

Issued

Feb 28, 2005

Abate by

Apr 2, 2005

Penalty

Initial $7,000

Issued

Feb 28, 2005

Abate by

Apr 2, 2005

Penalty

Initial $7,000

Issued

Feb 28, 2005

Abate by

Apr 2, 2005

Penalty

Initial $7,000

Issued

Feb 28, 2005

Abate by

Apr 2, 2005

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,200 Reduced

Issued

Feb 28, 2005

Abate by

Apr 2, 2005

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $4,200 Reduced

Issued

Feb 28, 2005

Abate by

Apr 2, 2005

Issued

Feb 28, 2005

Abate by

Apr 2, 2005

Issued

Feb 28, 2005

Abate by

Apr 2, 2005

Penalty

Initial $70,000 · Current $56,000 Reduced