OSHA has cited a power plant and it’s security services provider, for $43,458 in total proposed penalties, following a release of anhydrous ammonia at its Gibsonton facility. On May 23, 2017, OSHA responded to the incident and determined that the ammonia release occurred when a relief valve activated after a pipeline became over pressurized. As a result, four workers were taken to the hospital for observation and released. OSHA issued the power plant two serious citations for failing to include all the minimum requirements in their emergency response plan and not ensuring employees exposed to hazardous substances wore appropriate respiratory protection. The Agency also issued the power company a Hazard Alert Letter with recommendations to mitigate asphyxiation hazards. The investigation also led to citations for the security services provider, which received two serious violations for not developing or implementing a written hazard communication program, and failing to provide information and training on hazardous chemicals in the workplace. Here are the citations:
NOTE: this is the same power plant that had the fatal slag tank accident earlier in the year.
Power Plant Citations
Citation 1 Item 1
Type of Violation: Serious; $9,054
29 CFR 1910.120(q)(2): The employer did not develop an emergency response plan for emergencies which addressed the following minimum requirements of this standard:
1910.120(q)(2)(i) through 1910.120(q)(2)(xii):
- At the facility, employees responded to an emergency, such as but not limited to, ammonia release, on or about 5/23/17. The emergency response plan did not have the minimum requirements:
- Pre-emergency planning and coordination with outside parties;
- Personnel roles, lines of authority, training, and communication;
- Emergency recognition and prevention;
- Safety distances and places of refuge;
- Site security and control;
- Evacuation routes and procedures;
- Decontamination;
- Emergency medical treatment and first aid;
- Emergency alerting ad response procedures;
- Critique of response and follow-up;
- PPE and emergency equipment; and
- Emergency response organization
Citation 1 Item 2
Type of Violation: Serious; $9,054
29 CFR 1910.120(q)(3)(iv): Employees engaged in emergency response and exposed to hazardous substances presenting an inhalation hazard or potential inhalation hazard, did not wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus until such time that the individual in charge of the incident command system determined through the use of air monitoring that a decreased level of respiratory protection would not result in hazardous exposures to employees:
- At the facility, employees responded to an emergency, caused by the release of an unknown quantity of anhydrous ammonia, to the atmosphere. Employees were exposed to levels at or above 50.0 parts per million, on or about 05/23/2017. No positive pressure respirator and monitoring was available and/or provided during the response.
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Security Services Contractor Citations
Citation 1 Item 1
Type of Violation: Serious; $12,675
29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(1): The employer did not develop, implement, and/or maintain at the workplace a written hazard communication program which describes how the criteria specified in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f), (g), and (h) will be met:
- At the Power Plant, employees performing security service at the facility were exposed to the health and/or physical hazards of chemicals such as, but not limited to, anhydrous ammonia. Hazards include, but not limited to upper respiratory and skin burns and/or irritation, on or about, 05/23/2017.
Citation 1 Item 2
Type of Violation: Serious; $12,675
29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into their work area:
- At the Power Plant, employees performing security service at the facility were exposed to the health and/or physical hazards of chemicals such as, but not limited to, anhydrous ammonia. Hazards include, but not limited to upper respiratory and skin bums, on or about, 05/23/2017.
CLICK HERE for the citations