OSHA Inspection: STERIS CORPORATION

Issued

Oct 25, 2006

Abate by

Nov 29, 2006

Penalty

Initial $2,625 · Current $2,500 Reduced

Hazardous substances 1903231018602085

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 toxic and corrosive gases from the uncontrolled release of
nitrogen oxides due
to inadequate process hazard evaluations of a mixing process:
a.) Steris Corporation, Metal Finishing Department, Batch Waste Treatment
System, Holding
Tank - On or about September 12, 2006, a company employee transferred an
Electropolish
Solution, BroCo EP-2000, into a holding tank that contained approximately
seventy-five gallons
of a Pickling Solution, BroCo 897 Compound Cleaning and Deoxidizing
Liquid.  Within minutes
of starting the transfer, a reaction between the solutions generated toxic
and corrosive gases of
nitrogen oxides, which were subsequently released into the work areas.
The chemical release
resulted in a full plant evacuation.
FEASIBLE ABATEMENT METHODS:
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods to correct the
condition include:
1.) Conduct comprehensive process hazard evaluations of potential chemical
mixing processes
occurring in the Metal Finishing Department and Batch Waste Treatment
System area as
described in the Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS), of the
American Institute of
Chemical Engineers (AIChE), publication Guidelines for Hazard Evaluation
Procedures, Second
Edition with Worked Examples,
2.) Establish / revise Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Metal
Finishing Department
and the Batch Waste Treatment System to prohibit the mixing chemicals
prior to conducting
adequate hazard evaluations,
3.) Ensure that a management of change program for routine and non-routine
operations
is
followed to ensure changes and their consequences are thoroughly evaluated
and disseminated
to all affected personnel,
4.) Conduct training with company management and employees covering the
process hazard
evaluations, changes to SOPs, and the proper handling of management of
change.

Issued

Oct 25, 2006

Abate by

Jan 15, 2007

Penalty

Initial $1,875 · Current $1,000 Reduced

Issued

Oct 25, 2006

Abate by

Nov 15, 2006

Issued

Oct 25, 2006

Abate by

Nov 15, 2006

Penalty

Initial $1,500