Recently OSHA issued citations to a business that has its own LPG storage tank and fills its own forklift LPG cylinders. We have seen far too many of these types of set-ups that are FAR OUTSIDE any resemblance of OSHA/NFPA/Fire Code compliance. These two (2) citations drive home the point about PROTECTING our storage tanks from mobile equipment hazards (e.g. contact with the tank). In this case, OSHA issued a REPEAT as the business had been cited at a nearby location for the same hazard. Here are the two (2) citations:
Citation 2 Item 1
Type of Violation: Repeat; $68,591 29 CFR 1910.11O(h)(6)(ii)(b): Containers were not protected by crash rails or guards to prevent physical damage and they were not protected by virtue of their location. (a) In the parking area located on the east side of Building 2, an above ground liquefied petroleum gas storage tank was not protected by crash rails or guards to prevent physical damage from motor vehicles operating and parking less than 2 feet away from the tank. Employees drive up to the storage tank and refill portable propane tanks, exposing employees to fire and explosion hazards.
29 CFR 1910.110(h)(6)(ii)(b): Containers were not protected by crash rails or guards to prevent physical damage and they were not protected by virtue of their location.
(a) In the parking area located on the east side of Building 2, an above ground liquefied petroleum gas storage tank was not protected by crash rails or guards to prevent physical damage from motor vehicles operating and parking less than 2 feet away from the tank. Employees drive up to the storage tank and refill portable propane tanks, exposing employees to fire and explosion hazards.
Business was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.110(h)(6)(ii)(b), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 683738, citation number 1, item number 5 and was affirmed as a final order on April 10, 2013, with respect to a workplace located in Dalton, Georgia.
Citation 2 Item 3
Type of Violation: Repeat; $48,994 29 CFR 1910.178(f)(2): The storage and handling
29 CFR 1910.178(f)(2): The storage and handling of liquefied petroleum gas fuel was not in accordance with NFPA Storage and Handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gases (NFPA No. 58-1969), which is incorporated by reference as specified in 29 CFR 1910.6:
(a) Filling Station area located on the east side of building #2, An above ground LP-Gas storage tank was not posted with a sign (i.e. “No Smoking”, “No Flame”) on the refueling side of the LP gas forklift refueling station and a portable fire extinguisher was missing, exposing employees to fire and explosion hazards.
Business was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.110(h)(6)(ii)(b), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 683738, citation number 1, item number 5 and was affirmed as a final order on April 10, 2013, with respect to a workplace located in Dalton, Georgia.
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