TAMAQUA, PA —
OSHA Inspection: COPPERHEAD CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC.
Planned inspection · Health discipline
At a glance
On , OSHA opened a planned health inspection of COPPERHEAD CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC. in 120 RIVER ROAD, TAMAQUA, PA 18252 (NAICS 325412). OSHA activity number 343296190.
OSHA opens inspections for many reasons — routine scheduling under a national or local emphasis program, an employee complaint or referral, or a follow-up after a reported injury. Opening or conducting an inspection is not itself an allegation or a finding that this employer broke any rule; any findings appear as the citations listed below, and citations can be contested, reduced, or withdrawn.
Where did this inspection happen?
- Establishment
- COPPERHEAD CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC.
- Site address
- 120 RIVER ROAD
- City
- TAMAQUA
- State
- PA
- ZIP
- 18252
- Mailing
- 120 RIVER ROAD, TAMAQUA, PA 18252
What kind of inspection was it?
- Inspection type
- Planned (H)
- Scope
- Partial (B)
- Discipline
- Health
- Advance notice
- No
- Union status
- A
When did the case open and close?
- Opened
- Closing conference
- Case closed
- Last modified
- Data loaded
Establishment context
- NAICS code
- 325412
- Employees
- 38
- Ownership type
- A
Citations
4 citations on file for this inspection.
1910.119 E03 IV
- Issued
- Nov 28, 2018
- Abate by
- Jan 17, 2019
- Penalty
- Initial $4,398 · Current $0 Reduced
1900
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.119(e)(3)(iv): The PHA did not address consequences of failure of engineering and administrative controls: a) Mix and pack, nitrogen gas was used as a test, purge and drying media. The building ventilation system and exhaust was used to remove fugitive nitrogen that could escape vessels and containers. The potential for a hazardous atmosphere inside the occupied building due to inadequate nitrogen removal was not addressed in the PHA, on or about, August 27, 2018. b) Pharmaceutical blending facility, nitrogen gas was used as a fluid transfer assist and drying media. The building ventilation system and exhaust was used to remove fugitive nitrogen that could escape vessels. The potential for a hazardous atmosphere inside the occupied building due to inadequate nitrogen removal was not addressed in the PHA, on or about, August 27, 2018. c) Pharmaceutical blending facility, a pressure regulator, as part of the nitrogen gas cylinder system located in the mechanical room, had relief capability. If the relief was actuated, it would discharge nitrogen into the occupied building. The PHA did not address potential for a hazardous atmosphere inside the occupied building, on or about, August 27, 2018. ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED
Recent events (2)
- — I (S) $0
- — Z (S) $4398
1910.119 J04 II
- Issued
- Nov 28, 2018
- Abate by
- May 25, 2019
- Penalty
- Initial $0 · Current $4,348
1912
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.119(j)(4)(ii): Inspection and testing procedures did not follow recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices: a) Pharmaceutical blending facility, the employer did not document that nitrogen gas pressure regulators complied with the requirements of RAGAGEP, such as CGA E-4, CGA E-15, and OEM guidelines, which may lead to over-pressurization of process vessels and equipment. Over-pressurization may lead to process vessel and equipment failure and potential fire or explosion with energetic contents, on or about, August 27, 2018. b) Nitrator, the employer did not document that brine coolant piping complied with the requirements of RAGAGEP, such as ASME B31.3, ASME B31.5, API 570, IIAR 2, ASHRAE 15, and UMC 1 to detect corrosion which may lead to leaks in the brine piping loop between the nitrator and the brine tank. Leaks could compromise cooling of the nitration process during manufacture of an energetic material, leading to potential fire or explosion, on or about August 30, 2018. ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED
Recent events (2)
- — I (O) $4348
- — Z (S) $0
1910.119 E03 V
- Issued
- Nov 28, 2018
- Abate by
- May 25, 2019
- Penalty
- Initial $5,497 · Current $5,000 Reduced
1912
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.119(e)(3)(v): The process hazard analysis did not address the hazards related to facility siting: a) Facility siting, the process hazard analysis did not address the potential hazard of fire and explosion related to the interruption of the nitration operation that could be caused by an anhydrous ammonia release from the NG Refrigeration Building equipment, on or about, August 30, 2018. ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED
Recent events (2)
- — I (S) $5000
- — Z (S) $5497
1910.119 D03 II
- Issued
- Nov 28, 2018
- Abate by
- Jan 17, 2019
- Penalty
- Initial $4,398 · Current $0 Reduced
1900
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.119(d)(3)(ii): The employer did not document that equipment complies with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices: a) Mix and pack, a nitrogen pressure relief valve located in the covered entrance had its discharge directed into an occupied area, and the installation did not comply with RAGAGEP such as API 520, API 521, or ASME BPVC VIII, on or about, August 27, 2018. b) Mix and pack, a nitrogen pressure relief valve located on the western wall of the first floor near the bottom of tank T-505 had its discharge directed into the occupied area, and the installation did not comply with RAGAGEP such as API 520, API 521, or ASME BPVC VIII, on or about, August 27, 2018. c) Mix and pack, a pin pricked flexible hose, in lieu of permanent piping, was used to route nitrogen gas from the dewar manifold to the building hard piped system. The hose was improperly supported, had long term exposure to sunlight and weather, was partially coated with mildew, and did not comply with RAGAGEP such as OEM guidelines, on or about, August 27, 2018. d) Pharmaceutical blending facility, a hand operated ball valve was used as nitrogen system shut down inside the concrete block wall at the service entrance to the building. The valve was located up in the ceiling, out of reach of operators, and had a long wooden handle attached to it so that operators could actuate the valve. The installation did not comply with RAGAGEP such as API 608, August 27, 2018. ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION REQUIRED
Recent events (2)
- — I (S) $0
- — Z (S) $4398
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Source
This record is reproduced from the U.S. Department of Labor Open Data API (OSHA inspection dataset). The original IMIS detail view is available at OSHA's Establishment Search for activity number 343296190.
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