OSHA Inspection: AIROSOL COMPANY, INC.

Issued

May 16, 2017

Abate by

Jun 8, 2017

Penalty

Initial $8,873 · Current $4,437 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(b)(6): In locations where flammable vapors may be present, precautions were not taken to prevent ignition by eliminating or controlling sources of ignition.  Sources of ignition may include open flames, lightning, smoking, hot surfaces, frictional heat, sparks (static, electrical, and mechanical), spontaneous ignition, chemical and physical-chemical reactions, and radiant heat:  The employer is failing to protect employees from fire and explosion hazards from flammable vapors. This was most recently documented on or about November 22nd, 2016 at the facility located at 1206 Illinois in Neodesha, Kansas, a non-intrinsically-safe portable fan was located in a flammable storage area and was turned on which resulted in a fire that injured an employee and destroyed much of the facility.

Issued

May 16, 2017

Abate by

Jun 8, 2017

Penalty

Initial $8,873 · Current $4,437 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(c)(7): "Testing." All piping before being covered, enclosed, or placed in use shall be hydrostatically tested to 150 percent of the maximum anticipated pressure of the system, or pneumatically tested to 110 percent of the maximum anticipated pressure of the system, but not less than 5 pounds per square inch gage at the highest point of the system. This test shall be maintained for a sufficient time to complete visual inspection of all joints and connections, but for at least 10 minutes.  The employer is failing to protect employees from fire and explosion hazards from stored flammable liquids and gases in in piping systems that were not tested. This was most recently documented on or about December 6 through 8, 2016 at the facility located at 1206 Illinois in Neodesha, Kansas, inspectors found no stamps, labels or documents to support that these tests had been performed as required for the piping delivering liquid products to the mixing room from the storage vessels in the tank farm.

Issued

May 16, 2017

Abate by

Jun 8, 2017

Penalty

Initial $8,873 · Current $4,437 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(d)(4)(iii)  Electrical wiring and equipment located in inside storage rooms used for Category 1 or 2 flammable liquids, or Category 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint below 100 °F (37.8 °C), shall be approved under subpart S of this part for Class I, Division 2 Hazardous Locations; for Category 3 flammable liquids with a flashpoint at or above 100 °F (37.8 °C) and Category 4 flammable liquids, shall be approved for general use.  The employer is failing to protect employees from fire and explosion hazards from flammable vapors. This was most recently documented on or about November 22nd, 2016 at the facility located at 1206 Illinois in Neodesha, Kansas, a non-intrinsically-safe portable fan was located in a flammable storage area and was turned on which resulted in a fire that injured an employee and destroyed much of the facility.

Issued

May 16, 2017

Abate by

Sep 30, 2017

Penalty

Initial $8,873 · Current $4,437 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.106(d)(4)(iv): Each inside storage room was not provided with either a gravity or a mechanical exhaust ventilation system designed to provide for a complete change of air within the room at least six times per hour.   The employer is failing to protect employees from fire and explosion hazards from flammable vapors in that insufficient air exchanges in the mixing room did not remove vapors from the building. This was most recently documented on or about December 6 through 8, 2016 at the facility located at 1206 Illinois in Neodesha, Kansas, where inspectors found three permanent discharge fans located on the exterior of the mixing room. Additional ventilation was not provided in the flammable storage areas and no fresh air intakes were provided. No ventilation air flow testing had been performed to determine the exchange rates utilizing the three fans provided.

Issued

May 16, 2017

Abate by

Jun 8, 2017

Penalty

Initial $8,873 · Current $4,437 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(6)(i): The employer did not conduct an annual or more frequent inspection of the energy control procedure to ensure that the procedure and requirements of this standard were followed:  The employer is failing to protect employees from electrocution hazards and chemical exposures from processes not being locked out. This was most recently documented on or about December 6 through 8, 2016, at the facility located at 1206 Illinois in Neodesha, Kansas, where inspectors found no evidence to support that periodic inspections of the procedure were performed.

Issued

May 16, 2017

Abate by

Jun 8, 2017

Penalty

Initial $8,873 · Current $4,437 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.178(c)(2)(iii): Power-operated industrial trucks other than those designated as EX were used in atmospheres containing any of the chemicals referenced in this section in quantities sufficient to produce explosive or ignitable mixtures and where such concentrations of these gases or vapors exist continuously, intermittently or periodically under normal operating conditions:  The employer is failing to protect employees from fire and explosion hazards in that a propane fork lift used in the mixing room was not rated for the environment. This was most recently documented on or about November 22nd, 2016 at the facility located at 1206 Illinois in Neodesha, Kansas, where an employee was operating a propane-powered forklift in the area where this fire and explosion incident occurred.

Issued

May 16, 2017

Abate by

Jun 8, 2017

Penalty

Initial $8,873 · Current $4,437 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.307(c): Equipment, wiring methods, and installations of equipment in hazardous locations were not intrinsically safe, approved for the locations, or safe for the locations.      The employer is failing to protect employees from fire and explosion hazards from flammable vapors. This was most recently documented on November 22, 2016 at the facility located at 1206 Illinois in Neodesha, Kansas. The employer did not ensure equipment in hazardous areas was intrinsically safe, approved or safe for the locations.

Issued

May 16, 2017

Abate by

Jul 31, 2017

Penalty

Initial $8,873 · Current $4,437 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(i): The employee training did not include the methods and observations used to detect the presence or release of a hazardous chemical in the work area:  The employer is failing to provide training to employees on the detection of flammable vapors exposing them to hazards of fire and explosion. This was most recently documented on or about November 22nd, 2016 at the facility located at 1206 Illinois in Neodesha, Kansas, where employees working in the flammable storage areas were not trained on the methods to detect the presence of flammable vapors.

Issued

May 16, 2017

Abate by

Jul 31, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(ii): Employee training did not include the physical and health hazards of the chemicals in the work area:   The employer is failing to provide training to employees on the recognition of physical properties associated with flammable vapors exposing them to hazards of fire and explosion. This was most recently documented on or about November 22nd, 2016 at the facility located at 1206 Illinois in Neodesha, Kansas, where employees working in the flammable storage areas were not trained on the health hazards of the chemicals used.

Issued

May 16, 2017

Abate by

Jul 31, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(3)(iii): Employee training did not include the measures employees can take to protect themselves from chemical hazards, including specific procedures the employer had implemented to protect employees from exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as appropriate work practices, emergency procedures and personal protective equipment to be used:  The employer is failing to provide training to employees on specific procedures and use of personal protective equipment to protect employees from exposure to hazards of fire and explosion from flammable vapors. This was most recently documented on or about November 22nd, 2016 at the facility located at 1206 Illinois in Neodesha, Kansas, where employees working in the flammable storage areas were not trained on the hazards of the chemicals used.