PSM and RMP Citations/Analysis

A cold storage business has been cited for 14 safety violations and fined $132,800 by OSHA for exposing workers to anhydrous ammonia at its facility. The company has been placed in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program.  The March inspection was initially conducted under OSHA’s high-hazard local emphasis program. It expanded to include all items within…...

The Respondent produces, processes, handles and/or stores hydrogen cyanide as part of its Adiponitrile (ADN) Unit. Adiponitrile is manufactured by reacting butadiene with hydrogen cyanide to form Pentenenitrile, which is reacted with additional hydrogen cyanide to produce the Adiponitrile. The hydrogen cyanide is processed at the facility via reaction of natural gas, ammonia and air…...

On March 27,2013, EPA conducted a compliance inspection of 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)(7) of the Act. The EPA found that the Respondent had violated regulations implementing section 112(r)(7) of the Act by failing to comply with the specific…...

On December 14,2010, through December 16, 2010 EPA conducted a partial compliance evaluation inspection of the refinery pursuant to Section 112 of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. §7414 to evaluate the Facility’s compliance with the requirements of 40 CFR Part 68.  Respondent uses a standard procedure for inspection of process piping systems titled Mechanical…...

On March 7, 2013, EPA conducted a compliance inspection of 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)(7) of the Act. The EPA found that the Respondent had violated regulations  implementing section 112(r)(7) of the Act by failing to comply with the…...

An aerosol paint manufacturer has been cited for multiple safety violations following an explosion and fire that resulted in serious injuries to three employees on March 6, 2013. OSHA cited the company for 26 safety violations, including two willful violations where locked doors impeded exit routes and snow blocked exits, slowing employees from exiting the plant…...

Respondent is the owner and operator of the natural gas compressor stations. The Facilities receive natural gas from well sites, separate out liquids from the natural gas and route the natural gas liquids to aboveground storage tanks at the Facilities. The natural gas is compressed and then sent via pipeline to gas plants for further…...

A hotwork fire at a natural gas processing plant occurred while installing the 4 inch weld-a-let. Sweet dehydrated natural gas was released and ignited, causing a flash fire that lasted for approximately one second. As a result of the flash fire, hot gases and radiant heat were released through the 4 inch hole, burning the…...

A nationwide ice maker has been cited by OSHA for 9 serious and 3 repeat workplace safety violations for $147,000 at it’s Fairport, NY, plant. The inspection was conducted under OSHA’s Site-Specific Targeting Program that directs enforcement resources to high-hazard workplaces where the highest rates of injuries and illnesses occur. OSHA inspectors found workers exposed…...

The Respondent, a manufacturer, packager and distributer of multiple grades of high-purity solvents, acids, salts and bonded phase products, has four RMProgram covered processes which stores or otherwise uses chloroform, ethyl ether, formaldehyde, and hydrogen fluoride in amounts exceeding their applicable thresholds of 20,000; 10,000; 15,000; and 1,000 pounds respectively. Based on an RMProgram compliance monitoring…...

November 2-3, 2011, EPA conducted an inspection of fertilizer manufacturing plant (Anhydrous Ammonia) to determine compliance with Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act and 40 C.F.R. Part 68.  Information gathered during the EPA inspection revealed the facility had greater than 10,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia in a process at its facility. From the time…...

OSHA has cited asalt manufacturing plant for 13 safety violations and proposed penalties of $58,100 for exposing workers to chemical hazards. The complaint inspection, which began in March, was initiated under the agency’s complaint process and expanded to the PSM NEP. In this case, it’s the use of anhydrous ammonia.  Seven of the 12 serious…...