PSM and RMP Citations/Analysis

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…...

In the month of May (2012) three NH3 Refrigeration facilities have received substantial fines relating to their NH3 refrigeration process.  A large food distribution business/cold storage warehouse agreed to pay a penalty of $126,700and a cheese processing facility agreed to pay a penalty of $42,435 to settle claims by that they violated the Clean Air…...

Citation 1 Item 1 Type of Violation: Serious; $7,000 29 CFR 1910.119(c)(2): The employer did not consult with employees and their representatives on the conduct and development of process hazards analyses and on the development of the other elements of process safety management in this standard: The employer did not consult with Ammonia Refrigeration Mechanics…...

Citation 1 Item 1 Type of Violation: Serious; $4,500 Section 88.4 – Code of Iowa (2007) 88.4: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment that was free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to a…...