PSM and RMP Citations/Analysis

New Mexico OSHA and the refinery entered a settlement agreement for citations issued resulting from an investigation of a March 2010 accident, which killed two employees and seriously injured two others at the refinery. As part of the agreement, the company will pay a $400,000 fine, the highest penalty ever collected by the state OSHA program…....

OSHA has cited a discount retailer with 19 serious safety and health violations at the company’s distribution center that are related to process safety management, including exposing workers to anhydrous ammonia while storing frozen products in refrigeration units. OSHA’s inspection was initiated as part of the agency’s national emphasis program on process safety management for…...

OSHA has cited a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility for 17 serious safety violations following a fire at the company’s manufacturing facility on April 13. The fire occurred during the troubleshooting of an electrical component on the hot oil heater. OSHA initiated an inspection under its national emphasis program on process safety management for covered chemical facilities. Proposed…...

Company has agreed to pay a $378,000 penalty, update process equipment operating procedures, perform required training to workers, improve maintenance of equipment and perform integrity tests on pressure vessels and piping that will reduce the possibility of an accidental release of hazardous chemicals at their refinery.  … Membership Required You must be a member to access...

OSHA cited a paint plant for 26 health violations after a cloud containing flammable vapors was released from the company’s Columbus facility on March 21, 2012. OSHA initiated an inspection under its national emphasis program (NEP) on process safety management (PSM) for covered chemical facilities. Proposed fines total $138,600.  The vapor cloud was caused by…...

A Dairy in Puerto Rico has agreed to pay a penalty and make significant upgrades to settle RMP violations. The case stems from violations at two dairies located in Puerto Rico, including two major releases of anhydrous ammonia from one of the facilities. The Clean Air Act violations stem from the company’s failure of its…...

Two Washington state fruit companies failed to meet risk management plan requirements under the federal Clean Air Act, according to separate settlements with the U.S. EPA. As part of the settlements, the two companies will pay fines and submit missing reports to manage ammonia use. Both companies use more than 10,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia…...

OSHA has cited a Louisiana chemical facility with 10 serious and one other-than-serious violations related to OSHA’s process safety management standard (PSM) with proposed penalties totaling $67,000.   OSHA conducted the inspection under the PSM National Emphasis Program (NEP).  The ten serious violations include failing to provide accurate process safety information for P&IDs, use the appropriate…...

EPA has announced two Clean Air Act settlements with a natural gas processor in which the company has agreed to pay a total of $316,000 in penalties for violating Risk Management Plan provisions at natural gas plants in Casper and Douglas, Wyoming. In addition, the company has agreed to establish new operating procedures, improve equipment maintenance,…...

OSHA has cited a chemical plant with 12 serious, one repeat and one other-than-serious violations for exposing workers to multiple safety hazards while producing organic chemicals. OSHA’s Houston North Area Office initiated an inspection of the plant in January after receiving an employee complaint, and later expanded the inspection under the agency’s process safety management…...

This appears to be an inspection after an ammonia leak in a food processing area that impacted a contractor and food production workers.  A contractor drilled into what was thought to have been an “abandoned line” releasing the ammonia.  The leak was on 12/3/11 and the inspection began on 12/12/11.  Some very enlightening citations for…...