At 11:05 a.m. on September 17, 2020, an employee, 34, was working for a water treatment support services company. He began to take a bolt off the motor of a distribution pump on a chlorine dioxide generation system (Unit #2).
A seal which connected to a shaft motor of the distribution pump failed.
A seal on the 1.5-inch ball valve located between the batch tank and three distribution pumps also failed.
These failures caused chlorine dioxide to flow back from the batch tank to distribution pumps and be released. The employee inhaled chlorine dioxide vapor and developed coughing and shortness of breath, requiring hospitalization.
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||
| Current Violations | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||
| Initial Penalty | $13,654 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $13,654 |
| Current Penalty | $6,747 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $6,747 |
| FTA Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| # | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | FTA Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 01001A | Serious | 19100132 D01 | 01/13/2021 | $6,747 | $6,827 | $0 | I – Informal Settlement | |||
| 2. | 01001B | Serious | 19100147 C04 I | 01/13/2021 | $0 | $6,827 | $0 | I – Informal Settlement | |||
| 3. | 01001C | Serious | 19100147 C07 I | 01/13/2021 | 02/02/2021 | $0 | $0 | $0 | I – Informal Settlement | ||
| 4. | 02001 | Other | 19100038 E | 01/13/2021 | 02/02/2021 | $0 | $0 | $0 | I – Informal Settlement |
29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1)
The employer did not assess the workplace to determine whether hazards are present or likely to be present that necessitate the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
On or about 9/17/2020, at the Brazosport Water Authority (BWA) facility located in Lake Jackson Texas, the employer did not assess the chloride dioxide generation room to determine what PPE was necessary to protect employees from asphyxiation hazards associated with chlorine dioxide.
29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i)
Energy control procedures were not developed, documented and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees are engaged in the activities covered by this section.
On or about 9/17/2020, at the Brazosport Water Authority (BWA) facility located in Lake Jackson Texas, the employer did not ensure that energy control procedures or lock out and tag out (LOTO) procedures were developed and implemented for the following equipment but not limited to:
a. Millennium III C250 VF Chlorine Dioxide Generator Re-circulate pump AP-1 for recirculate vessel V1- BWA System #1 (or C31010).
b. Millennium III C250 VF Chlorine Dioxide Generator Re-circulate pump AP-1 for recirculate vessel V1- BWA System #2 (or C31011).
29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(i)
The employer did not provide training to ensure that employees understand the purpose and function of the energy control program and acquire the knowledge and skills required for the safe application, use, and removal of energy controls. On or about 9/17/2020, at the Brazosport Water Authority facility located in Lake Jackson, Texas, the employer did not ensure that employees applied the knowledge and skills of the energy control training effectively.
29 CFR 1910.38(e)
The employer did not designate and train employees to assist in a safe and orderly evacuation of other employees. On or about 9/17/2020, at the Brazosport Water Authority facility located in Lake Jackson Texas, the employer did not ensure that employees are effectively trained in safe and orderly evacuation.
Source: https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=1494373.015