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Tough start for PRCS Fatalities into OSHA’s 2016

Date of Incident  Employer/Address of Incident  Hazard Description  Inspection #  12/4/15 Sulzer Chemtech USA Inc., 39018 Hwy 3089, Donaldsonville, LA  70346 Worker died from exposure to argon while retrieving tool from tank. 1110099 12/1/15 Alexander Petroleum, 612 County Rd.  326, West Jourdanton, TX  78026 Worker asphyxiated while cleaning tank that previously held Petroleum Distillate. 1109329…...

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OSHA’s Interim PSM Enforcement Policy (December 23, 2015)

OSHA’s Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard states that its requirements do not apply to “retail facilities.” 29 CFR 1910.119(a)(2)(i).  On July 22, 2015, OSHA issued a memorandum entitled “Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals and Application of the Retail Exemption (29 CFR 1910.119(a)(2)(i))” (Memorandum). In the Memorandum, OSHA interpreted the term “retail,” as used…...

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2015 OSHA PRCS activity by Industry Sectors

UPDATED on 1/10/2016 Here is a look at OSHA’s PRCS activity in 2015 (October 2014 – September 2015). As you can see, OSHA did 206 PRCS inspections and issued 545 citations for a total of $1,435,301 in fines. This is the SETTLED amount and NOT the initial citations. Here is a quick breakdown of activity:…...

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2015 OSHA LOTO activity by Industry Sectors

Here is a look at OSHA’s Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) activity in 2015 (October 2014 – September 2015).  As you can see, OSHA did 1,796 LOTO inspections and issued 3,139 citations for a total of $9,013,808 in fines.  This is the SETTLED amount and NOT the initial citations.  Here is a quick breakdown of activity: NAICS Code:…...

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2015 OSHA PSM activity by Industry Sectors

Here is a look at OSHA’s PSM activity in 2015 (October 2014 – September 2015).  As you can see, OSHA did 109 PSM inspections and issued 477 citations for a total of $2,344,741 in fines.  This is the SETTLED amount and NOT the initial citations.  Here is a quick breakdown of activity: NAICS Code: 311…...

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Pitfalls of Contractors and LOTO (1910.147(f)(2)

OSHA’s Control of Hazardous Energy (lockout/tagout) standard has a paragraph called “Outside personnel (contractors, etc.)” and although it indicates that a contractor CAN use their own LOTO program within our facilities, I will attempt to convince you that it is MORE challenging than many may have considered.  Here is what 1910.147 states about “Outside personnel…...

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Employee Is Killed When Asphyxiated In Oil Storage Tank (PRCS – Issues with five minute escape pack)

PLEASE NOTE that there is a lack of info from this OSHA summary to establish if this was an issue with the quality of breathing air in the escape pack, a failure in training in how to operate the escape pack, or some other issue(s).  We do know that it was NOT the atmosphere within…...

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EPA RMP citations @ food facility (NH3 & $7K)

On June 3-5, 2015, an authorized representative of the EPA conducted a compliance inspection of the Respondent’s facility to determine compliance with the Risk Management Plan (RMP) regulations promulgated at 40 C.F.R. Part 68 under Section 112(r) of the CAA. The EPA found that the Respondent had violated regulations implementing Section 112(r) of the CAA…...

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EPA RMP citations @ milk and fruit juice facility (NH3 & $255K, with SEPs $316K)

Respondent owns and operates a controlled temperature production plant for milk and fruit juices. The Facility is located in a predominantly industrial and commercial area, across the street from the Lynn wastewater treatment plant, which also is an RMP facility. The Facility is within a quarter mile of a church, restaurants, other businesses, and freight…...

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Administrative court sets precedent, allowing request for enterprise-wide hazard abatement by employer to proceed to trial

An Administrative Law judge has decided that the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission may have authority under the Occupational Safety and Health Act to order abatement measures sought by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration beyond the specific violations OSHA identified in its the citations.  OSHA cited Central Transport LLC in November 2014 for 14 violations of workplace…...

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Scaffolder falls from height in a process vessel at a refinery – fatal

On 25 November 2015, a scaffolder died after falling into a process vessel at a refinery.  A bank of six digesters at the refinery had been off-line for maintenance and refurbishment work since July 2015. All pipework had been disconnected and scaffolding installed in August for refurbishment work inside the digesters. When the refurbishment work was almost…...

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