OSHA Inspection: NYRSTAR CLARKSVILLE INC

Issued

Jun 13, 2008

Abate by

Jul 24, 2008

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $4,500

General-duty citation text

T.C.A. 50-3-105(1): 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, on and before 2/14/08, employees were exposed to potential
explosions at the Cadmium
Plant.  Employees worked on a platform approximately 7 ft above, and in
locations adjacent to,
the cadmium purification process.
An explosion occurred in cadmium tank 14023 on 2/14/08, which resulted in
damage to the tank
and the equipment located on the platform above the tank.
The employer had not taken measures to evaluate or control employee
exposure to the hazard
of explosion due to the generation of excess hydrogen gas during the
cadmium purification
process as evidenced by the following:
a) The employer had not performed  a hazard assessment to determine the
generation
rate of
hydrogen gas based upon the use of various grades of Zinc dust in reaction
and the effectiveness
of the current exhaust ventilation system;
b) The employer had not completed a hazard assessment to determine the
generation rate of
hydrogen gas based upon the rate at which sulfuric acid was added to the
process and the
effectiveness of the current exhaust ventilation system;
c) The employer had not assessed the platform to ensure all equipment was
appropriate for the
location in which it was used;
Feasible abatement could include, but is not limited to:
The performance of a hazard assessment to determine the generation rate of
hydrogen gas, based
upon the use of various grades of Zinc dust and the rate at which sulfuric
acid is added to the
process, and the installation of an adequate ventilation system.
ABATEMENT VERIFICATION REQUIRED

Issued

Jun 13, 2008

Abate by

Jun 17, 2008