OSHA Inspection: RUMFORD PAPER COMPANY

Issued

Aug 29, 2007

Abate by

Oct 31, 2007

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $5,000

Hazardous substances 06401430

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 storing of incompatible chemicals together so as to
create a potential hazard.
a)Commodity Storage Area (Warehouse) - Storage of incompatible chemicals
created a hazard.  On and before 5/17/07 muriatic acid totes were stored
immediately adjacent to bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite) totes, which created a
potential commingling or mixing hazard.
b)Beater Room Basement, at the BAC (Bromium Activated Chloride) Biocide
Process - On 5/17/07 the employer did not assure that a muriatic acid tote
was
not stored immediately adjacent to the bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite)
storage tank.
On 5/17/07 an incident occurred in which acid was accidentally added to
bleach
in the bleach holding tank causing an exothermic reaction that released
chlorine
gas and hydrochloric acid vapors.  The acid, muriatic acid (31
hydrochloric
acid), was added to bleach (12.5Sodium Hypochlorite).
On three occasions on 5/17/07 and on or about 5/4/07 employees mistook acid
totes for bleach totes.  The acid totes (portable tanks) and the bleach
totes were
identical in shape, size, and color.  Muriatic acid and bleach are
incompatible.
Incompatible chemicals are chemicals that if accidentally mixed could
react and
cause toxic vapor release or fires.
Among the feasible controls for this hazard were:
1)Separate incompatible chemicals in storage.
2)Request that the chemical supplier not ship totes of incompatible
chemicals in
totes that are identical in shape, size, and color.  In the meantime flag
identical
or very similar totes containing chemicals that are incompatible with each
other.
3)In the Commodity Storage Area (Warehouse) and Beater Room Basement
institute
a chemical management system to prevent the unsafe storage and use of
incompatible chemicals, including acid and bleach.  Develop a chain of
custody
system for each container.
4)Have the acid cleaning contractor take direct possession of the delivery
of small
quantity containers (totes and drums) of acid, as they do with the 5,000
gallon
bulk tanker truck.
5)Require that the acid cleaning contractor have a bulk tanker delivery of
all the
acid required for the shutdown.

Issued

Aug 29, 2007

Abate by

Oct 31, 2007

Penalty

Initial $5,000

Hazardous substances 06401430

Issued

Aug 29, 2007

Abate by

Oct 31, 2007

Hazardous substances 06401430

Issued

Aug 29, 2007

Abate by

Oct 31, 2007

Penalty

Initial $5,000

Hazardous substances 06401430

Issued

Aug 29, 2007

Abate by

Oct 31, 2007

Penalty

Initial $2,500

Hazardous substances 06401430