PSM and RMP Citations/Analysis

EPA has announced a settlement with a refinery, resolving alleged Clean Air Act violations. The company has agreed to pay civil penalties of $115,000 for violations of risk management program requirements associated with the storage and use of flammable substances and hazardous chemicals. On December 15 and 16, 2011, EPA conducted an inspection of the…...

OSHA has cited the company with three repeat and four serious violations following a June inspection as part of the agency’s Process Safety Management Covered Chemical Facilities national emphasis program (NEP). Proposed penalties total $99,000. The repeat citations issued for the process safety management standard violations include failing to inspect and test process equipment consistent…...

A fruit Company failed to meet risk management requirements under the Clean Air Act, according a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The plant failed to submit their RMP in 2004 when they exceeded the 10,000-pound threshold for Anhydrous Ammonia, used as a refrigerant at the plant. As part of the settlement, the company will…...

OSHA has cited a chemical company for 47 violations following a chemical release and proposes $545,000 in fines AND the company was also placed in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program (SVEP). The 47 violations include four willful – violations after an unexpected release of hazardous materials led to the temporary shutdown of the plant and…...

Unsafe line break into an Anhydrous Ammonia line results in three workers hospitalized and more than $55,000 in fines – and some valuable lessons for emergency responders. … Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...

My apologies for missing this one back earlier this year!!!  OSHA has cited an adhesives manufacturing facility with 50 alleged violations of workplace safety standards following a March 13 explosion in which four workers were injured. The  faces a total of $917,000 in proposed fines.  OSHA’s inspection identified several serious deficiencies in the company’s PSM program. In…...

This is an interesting case, with EPA laying claim that although the chemical Toluene is NOT listed as an Extremely Hazardous Substance (EHS) in either the RMP or EPCRA rule it is still an EHS and the Clean Air Act’s RMP General Duty Clause applies to it.  EPA wins this case, but the argument the facility…...

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…...