OSHA Inspection: ASPHALT REFINING & TECHNOLOGY COMPANY, LLC

Issued

Apr 20, 2010

Abate by

May 7, 2010

Penalty

Initial $2,000

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish to each of his employees 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 a fire and explosion hazard
while using an open
flame torch to heat a sampling test port on an asphalt storage tank:
a) On or about January 28, 2010, in the asphalt tank storage area, an
employee was using
a propane torch to heat an asphalt test port valve on Tank #409 (blow
tank).  The
employer did not ensure that ignition sources were prohibited in areas
where flammable
vapors could accumulate, thereby exposing employees to a fire and/or
explosion hazard.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this
hazard would
be to comply with the requirements of the National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA)
30, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, Section 6.5 - Control of
Ignition Sources.
Specifically, Section 6.5.1 of NFPA 30 states that "Precautions shall be
taken to prevent
the ignition of flammable vapors by sources such as the following: (1)
Open flames".
To correct this hazard, alternative heating methods could be utilized to
heat the sampling
port such as the use of a steam lance, steam tracing or electrical heating
tape.
ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED.TION