Respondent stores and uses ammonia at the facility in parts of the storage and refrigeration process. Respondent’s storage and refrigeration process contains more than the threshold quantity (10,000 pounds) of ammonia. Respondent’s storage and refrigeration process does not meet the eligibility requirements for Program 1 under 40 C.F.R. § 68.10(b) and is subject to the […]
SPECIAL NOTE: This is the first time I have seen a penalty reduction from the COVID-19 impacts on the business. Respondent operates an ammonia refrigeration process with 15,416 pounds of anhydrous ammonia. The Respondent has one RMProgram level 3 covered process, which stores or otherwise uses a toxic substance in an amount exceeding its applicable
I am sharing this OSHRC decision to demonstrate how a citation can be vacated with PROPER supervision and training on machine hazards, guarding, and LOTO. In this case, an employee opened a guard, reached into the machine to clean/clear breading and the machine started – grabbed his smock and caused serious injuries to his right
LOTO locks can be keyed alike. For example, equipment/field locks can all be keyed to a SINGLE key; however, personal/individual locks MUST BE individually keyed (e.g., 1 key – 1 lock). Before starting work ask yourself this simple but very important question: Do I have EXCLUSIVE/SOLE control of each and every isolation device protecting ME?
Respondent owns and operates a beet sugar manufacturing facility.
NOTE: this incident happened long BEFORE OSHA had 1910.146 in place… At about 3:30 p.m. on October 10, 1986, Employee #1, a self contractor, arrived to inspect the sawmill’s fire protection sprinkler system backflow valve located in an underground vault 8 ft deep by 6 ft wide by 12 ft long with a 31 in.
A petrochemical refinery was undergoing a turnaround. A contractor crew had been assigned the job of sandblasting the inside surfaces of a reactor vessel (permit-required confined space). Although UNWRITTEN COMPANY POLICY called for the use of air compressors for supplying respirator air, this crew, with the supervisor’s knowledge, had previously used plant air to supply
WELDING on USED drums! At 12:00 p.m. on November 5, 2019, Employee #1 was making a small spot weld on a piece of metal. He was performing the weld on a drum of that contained flammable windshield washer fluid. There was an explosive reaction, and the cover of drum hit the employee’s face. Liquid splashed
At 10:45 a.m. on January 11, 2020, Employee #1, employed by an oil and gas operation company, was overseeing a heater treater welding repair. Employee #2 emptied the remaining fluids in the heater treater. Employee #1 power washed the heater treater to remove any remaining flammable materials and ensure that it was safe for welding.
I am not sure what it is about fresh air intake for exhaust ventilation systems, but we should call them “Rodney”, as in Rodney Dangerfield, because they get no respect. As I said in 2016 and 2018 in my articles: The Ventilation Design Basis begins with our intakes FRESH AIR intakes for a ventilation system
Respondent owns and operates an agricultural storage, feed, and supply business. On or about August 13, 2019, EPA conducted an inspection of Respondent’s Facility to determine compliance with Section 112(r) of the CAA and 40 C.F.R. Part 68. Information gathered during the EPA inspection revealed that Respondent had greater than 10,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia
Many consumers may have never heard of “nitriding”, but just about every metal component in heavy equipment will go through a “nitriding process” to strengthen the metal. And it is this nitriding process that many businesses have a HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL/PROPRIETARY blend for their process. Seems everyone has a slightly different blend and they hold this
