UPDATE: OSHA Settlement (Final)
This week OSHA posted their citations (20 serious and 1 “other-than”) for a fatality involving Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3) at a seafood processing business in Boston, MA. None of the citations were for 1910.119 (PSM) indicating that the process contained less than 10,000 pounds of NH3. However, OSHA did issue two (2) General Duty Clause citations ($19,241) regarding the NH3 process on matters such as: 1) lack of NH3 pipe labeling, 2) not calibrating NH3 sensors per manufacturer’s schedule, 3) lack of proper engine room ventilation, 4) lack of adequate illumination in engine room, 5) improper separation of engine room from other rooms, and 6) improper pressure vessel inspections. At the time of the incident, the BFD stated in their public communications that the fatal release involved around 5,000 pounds of NH3. For unknown reasons, the refrigeration supervisor was overcome by the NH3 and found deceased at the top of some stairs in a stairwell. Here are the OSHA citations: