OSHA Inspection: A&D ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC.

Issued

Oct 4, 2007

Abate by

Oct 10, 2007

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $2,100

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 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 flammable vapors, fire
hazards and explosion:
a) at the construction site, in the process of removing 8000-gallon
gasoline tanks,
the employer did not ensure all ignition sources of fire and/or explosion
had been
eliminated or controlled by the following requirements:
(1) removal of residue from the tanks;
(2) purging of flammable vapors from the tanks;  and
(3) plugging tank openings to 1/4 inch.
Reference: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 30, Chapter 21,
Storage of Liquids in Tanks - Requirement for All Storage Tanks,
Section 21.7.4.3 - Removal from Service of Underground Storage
Tanks & Section 21.7.4.3.4 - Removal and Disposal.
Among other methods, the feasible and acceptable method to abate these
hazards
is to utilize the dry ice method as recommended by the American Petroleum
Institute (API) by adding 1-1/2 to 2 pounds of Dry Ice per 100 gallons of
tank
capacity to ensure flammable vapors are below the lower explosive limit
(LEL).
Reference:  UST REMOVAL GUIDEBOOK, OKLAHOMA CORPORATION
COMMISSION, PETROLEUM STORAGE TANK DIVISION, July, 2004.