On May 20, 2017, at 11:30 a.m. Employee #1, a refrigeration technician, and a coworker were performing pump down of a live ammonia refrigeration line to make the pipe available for replacement. The two (2) employees had checked the line on the roof with a blower and thinking it was clear, went to the engine room to open a valve. The valve was difficult to open, and they believed it was clogged. Employee #1 loosened the valve to see if there was pressure and it popped loose and sprayed ammonia onto his hands and arms, as well as into the air. The employee was hospitalized for treatment after his exposure to the ammonia. The second employee was also hospitalized. Both men were 62 years old. OSHA issued citations regarding process safety management, voluntary use of respirators, respirator training, and fall protection:
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Violation Summary
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total | |
| Initial Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Current Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Initial Penalty | $4,155 | $4,155 | ||||
| Current Penalty | $4,155 | $4,155 | ||||
| Violation Items | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Standard | Issuance | Abate | Curr$ | Init $ | Contest |
| Serious |
19100134 C02 I An employer may provide respirators at the request of employees or permit employees to use their own respirators, if the employer determines that such respirator use will not in itself create a hazard. If the employer determines that any voluntary respirator use is permissible, the employer shall provide the respirator users with the information contained in Appendix D to this section (“Information for Employees Using Respirators When Not Required Under the Standard”) |
07/21/2017 | 08/16/2017 | $4,155 | $4,155 | 08/22/2017 |
| Serious |
19100134 C02 II In addition, the employer must establish and implement those elements of a written respiratory protection program necessary to ensure that any employee using a respirator voluntarily is medically able to use that respirator, and that the respirator is cleaned, stored, and maintained so that its use does not present a health hazard to the user. Exception: Employers are not required to include in a written respiratory protection program those employees whose only use of respirators involves the voluntary use of filtering facepieces (dust masks). |
07/21/2017 | 08/16/2017 | $0 | $0 | 08/22/2017 |
| Serious |
19100134 K01 V What the procedures are for maintenance and storage of the respirator; |
07/21/2017 | 08/16/2017 | $0 | $0 | 08/22/2017 |
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Violation Summary
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total | |
| Initial Violations | 3 | 3 | ||||
| Current Violations | 3 | 3 | ||||
| Initial Penalty | $30,965 | $30,965 | ||||
| Current Penalty | $30,965 | $30,965 | ||||
| Violation Items | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Standard | Issuance | Abate |
Curr $ |
Init $ |
Contest |
| Serious |
19100119 F04 The employer shall develop and implement safe work practices to provide for the control of hazards during operations such as lockout/tagout; confined space entry; opening process equipment or piping; and control over entrance into a facility by maintenance, contractor, laboratory, or other support personnel. These safe work practices shall apply to employees and contractor employees. |
07/21/2017 | 09/07/2017 | $11,408 | $11,408 | 08/22/2017 |
| Serious |
19100119 H03 I The contract employer shall assure that each contract employee is trained in the work practices necessary to safely perform his/her job. |
07/21/2017 | 09/07/2017 | $11,408 | $11,408 | 08/22/2017 |
| Serious |
19100140 C13 II Designed, installed, and used, under the supervision of qualified person, as part of a complete personal fall protection system that maintains a safety factor of at least two. |
07/21/2017 | 08/16/2017 | $8,149 | $8,149 | 08/22/2017 |