OSHA Inspection: SOUTHERN CHEMICAL & TEXTILE, INC.

Issued

Dec 31, 2019

Abate by

Feb 4, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,282 · Current $5,569 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized chemical hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees:  a)  Blending Area:  On or about July 2, 2019, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to chemical hazards, in that exothermic chemical reaction(s) for the production of Sopalex 340 were performed in the B1 mixing vessel, an Industrial Air, Inc. 6,500 gallon jacketed mix tank, rather than in an appropriate pressure vessel resulting in a runaway reaction and chemical release where the employer did not first ensure that the production of Sopalex 340 was safe to perform in the B1 jacketed mixing vessel through methods such as appropriate scale-up chemistry analysis and thermal stability testing.

Issued

Dec 31, 2019

Abate by

Jan 21, 2020

Penalty

Initial $5,636 · Current $3,382 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.151(c): Where employees were exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:  a)  Warehouse, Bulk Caustic Storage Tank (TK #2 NaOH):  On or about July 15, 2019, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to chemical burn hazards, in that suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided at the caustic storage tank where employees transfer 50% sodium hydroxide from the tank to smaller containers.  b)  Thickening, Mezzanine at T2:  On or about July 15, 2019, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to chemical burn hazards, in that suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body were not provided where employees transfer corrosive Sodium Methylate from a 55 gallon drum to the T2 blending tank.

Issued

Dec 31, 2019

Abate by

Jan 21, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(f)(1): The employer did not ensure that employee(s) required to use a tight-fitting facepiece respirator passed the appropriate qualitative fit test (QLFT) or quantitative fit test (QNFT):  a)  Blending Area, Mezzanine:  On or about July 15, 2019, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to chemical respiratory irritant hazards, in that annual fit tests were not provided to employees required by the employer to wear tight-fitting respirators while making additions of sodium monochloroacetate to blending vessel B1 and B2 or transferring Fentamine.

Issued

Dec 31, 2019

Abate by

Jan 21, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A): Flexible cords and/or cables were used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure:  a)  Blending Area:  On or about July 15, 2019, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to electrical hazards, in that flexible cords were used as a substitute for fixed wiring to provide electrical power to lights placed on the sight glass of blending vessels B1.  b)  Blending Area:  On or about July 15, 2019, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to electrical hazards, in that flexible cords were used as a substitute for fixed wiring to provide electrical power to lights placed on the sight glass of blending vessels B2.  c)  Thickening Area:  On or about July 15, 2019, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to electrical hazards, in that flexible cords were used as a substitute for fixed wiring to provide electrical power to lights placed on the sight glass of blending vessels T2.  d)  Thickening Area:  On or about July 15, 2019, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to electrical hazards, in that flexible cords were used as a substitute for fixed wiring to provide electrical power to lights placed on the sight glass of blending vessels T3.

Issued

Dec 31, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(C): Where not specifically permitted otherwise in paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this section, flexible cords or cables were used where run through doorways, windows, or similar openings.  a)  Thickening Area:  On or about July 15, 2019, and at times prior, the employer exposed employees to electrical hazards, in that a flexible cord was run through the doorway from the warehouse area into the thickening area to provide power to a pedestal fan.