OSHA Inspection: THE ENSIGN BICKFORD CO

Issued

Jan 31, 1985

Abate by

Feb 3, 1985

Penalty

Initial $900 · Current $900

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: 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 employees were exposed to:
ON/BEFORE AUGUST 15, 1984, EMPLOYEES, WORKING IN BUILDING 211
CONDUCTING NITRATIONS OF PYX IN THE 100-GALLON PFAUDLER REACTION
VESSEL, WERE EXPOSED TO POTENTIAL EXPLOSION HAZARDS DUE TO THE
POSSIBILITY OF RUNAWAY REACTIONS.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO
CORRECT THE HAZARD IS TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING:
1) AT LEAST TWO (2) INDEPENDENT TEMPERATURE MONITORS INSIDE THE
REACTION VESSEL TO WARN EMPLOYEES IF THE TEMPERATURE REACHED ABOVE
THE PREDETERMINED SET POINT AND TO ACTIVATE THE DISCHARGE VALVE TO
EMPTY THE CONTENTS OF THE VESSEL INTO A DROWNING TUB IF THE
TEMPERATURE REACHED A DANGEROUS LEVELS, AND
2) AN AUTOMATIC OPENING DISCHARGE VALVE AND PIPING INTO AN AGITATED
TANK OF WATER OR NEUTRALIZING SOLUTION. THE VALVE MUST OPEN IF
THE POWER OR THE SYSTEM FAILED OR IF IT WAS MANUALLY ACTIVATED BY
THE OPERATOR. PROVISIONS MUST BE MADE SO THAT THE VALVE WOULD NOT
BE RENDERED INOPERABLE IN THE EVENT OF A POWER FAILURE, AND
3) PROVIDE OTHER APPROPRIATE CONTROLS SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, A
STIRRING AGITATOR MONITOR IN THE FORM OF A SHAFT ROTATION OR LOW
CURRENT MONITOR OR BOTH. THE MONITOR MUST BE TIED TO AN ALARM TO
WARN EMPLOYEES IN THE EVENT OF A STOPPAGE OF THE AGITATOR. ALSO,
PROVIDE COOLANT WATER MONITORS.

Issued

Jan 31, 1985

Abate by

Feb 3, 1985

Penalty

Initial $900 · Current $900

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: 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 employees were exposed to:
ON/BEFORE AUGUST 15, 1984, EMPLOYEES, WORKING IN BUILDING 211 WERE
EXPOSED TO POTENTIAL EXPLOSION HAZARDS DUE TO THE STORAGE OF
EXPLOSIVES IN THE TREAD TYPE STORAGE MAGAZINE IN FRONT OF THE
BUILDING.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT METHOD TO
CORRECT THE HAZARD IS TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING:
1) LOCATE THE SERVICE MAGAZINE TO A SAFE INTRALINE DISTANCE FROM THE
PRODUCTION BUILDING, AND
2) LIMIT THE QUANTITY OF EXPLOSIVES STORED IN THE SERVICE MAGAZINE
TO THE MINIMUM AMOUNT NECESSARY FOR SAFE, EFFICIENT PRODUCTION.

Issued

Jan 31, 1985

Abate by

Feb 3, 1985

Issued

Jan 31, 1985

Abate by

Feb 3, 1985

Issued

Jan 31, 1985

Abate by

Feb 3, 1985

Issued

Jan 31, 1985

Abate by

Feb 3, 1985