OSHA Inspection: GREENLEAF CORPORATION

Issued

Dec 3, 2007

Abate by

Dec 6, 2007

Penalty

Initial $4,550 · Current $4,550

General-duty citation text

North Carolina General Statute 95-129(1) of the Occupational Safety and
Health Act of North Carolina:  The
employer did not furnish to each of his employees conditions of 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 that were exposed to an explosion because the employer failed to
adhere to an oven manufacturers
specification for the type and amount of solvent to be used in an oven.
a)  Facility, Maintenance Room:  On Tuesday, August 7, 2007 a Despatch
Oven, (serial#102516),
exploded at the Greenleaf Corporation facility.  The oven was originally
designed for .5 gal/hr of
methanol.  The oven was loaded with 28 liters of hexane, which is
approximately 7.5 gallons of
solvent.  This solvent type and amount did not adhere to the oven
manufacturers specifications.
REFERENCE:
1)  NFPA 86 - Ovens and Furnaces, 2007 edition.
a)  7.2.4 -  The party responsible shall ensure that any changes to the
original design
made during commissioning are reflected in the documentation.
b)  7.4.1 -  The furnace shall be operated in accordance with the design
parameters.
2)  Despatch Oven Design Specification and Information Sheet
a)  Type of Solvent (Flammable Liquid or Gas):  Methanol
b)  Maximum Amount Allowed:  .5 G.P.H. &350 degrees F
NOTE:  Among other methods, one feasible acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is to
purchase an oven designed specifically for the process and the maximum
amount of hexane intended to
be used.