On January 27, 2019, 12 employees needed transport to nearby hospitals after a a release of 2,100 pounds of anhydrous ammonia. OSHA cited the facility for failing to:
- Equip an ammonia refrigeration system with a pressure relief device as referenced by the manufacturer’s operating manual;
- Train technicians to use an alternative over-pressure safety procedure to prevent pipes from rupturing and releasing anhydrous ammonia;
- Perform a management of change procedure to determine the effects of removing safety relief devices from all condensers;
- Make available medical surveillance for response team members exposed to hazardous substances above the permissible exposure limits;
- Inspect Level B respiratory protection equipment; and
- Provide a medical evaluation to determine each employee’s ability to use a respirator.
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Violation Summary
|
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Total | |
| Initial Violations | 10 | 3 | 13 | ||
| Current Violations | 10 | 3 | 13 | ||
| Initial Penalty | $117,446 | $0 | $0 | $1,895 | $119,341 |
| Current Penalty | $117,446 | $0 | $0 | $1,895 | $119,341 |
| FTA Amount | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Violation Items | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | ID | Type | Standard | Issuance | Abate | Curr$ | Init$ | Contest |
| 1. | 01001 | Serious |
19100029 B02 I – Midrails are installed at a height midway between the top edge of the guardrail system and the walking-working surface; |
07/25/2019 | 08/02/2019 | $9,472 | $9,472 | 08/20/2019 |
| 2. | 01002 | Serious |
19100119 D03 II – The employer shall document that equipment \complies with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices. |
07/25/2019 | 08/02/2019 | $13,260 | $13,260 | 08/20/2019 |
| 3. | 01003 | Serious |
19100119 J03 – The employer shall train each employee involved in maintaining the on-going integrity of process equipment in an overview of that process and its hazards and in the procedures applicable to the employee’s job tasks to assure that the employee can perform the job tasks in a safe manner. |
07/25/2019 | 08/16/2019 | $13,260 | $13,260 | 08/20/2019 |
| 4. | 01004 | Serious |
19100119 J04 III – The frequency of inspections and tests of process equipment shall be consistent with applicable manufacturers’ recommendations and good engineering practices, and more frequently if determined to be necessary by prior operating experience. |
07/25/2019 | 08/16/2019 | $13,260 | $13,260 | 08/20/2019 |
| 5. | 01005 | Serious |
19100119 L01 – The employer shall establish and implement written procedures to manage changes (except for “replacements in kind”) to process chemicals, technology, equipment, and procedures; and, changes to facilities that affect a covered process. |
07/25/2019 | 08/16/2019 | $13,260 | $13,260 | 08/20/2019 |
| 6. | 01006 | Serious |
19100119 N – The employer shall establish and implement an emergency action plan for the entire plant in accordance with the provisions of 29 CFR 1910.38. In addition, the emergency action plan shall include procedures for handling small releases. Employers covered under this standard may also be subject to the hazardous waste and emergency response provisions contained in 29 CFR 1910.120 (a), (p) and (q). |
07/25/2019 | 08/16/2019 | $13,260 | $13,260 | 08/20/2019 |
| 7. | 01007 | Serious |
19100120 F03 I B – At least once every twelve months for each employee covered unless the attending physician believes a longer interval (not greater than biennially) is appropriate; |
07/25/2019 | 08/16/2019 | $13,260 | $13,260 | 08/20/2019 |
| 8. | 01008 | Serious |
19100134 G01 I A – Facial hair that comes between the sealing surface of the facepiece and the face or that interferes with valve function; or |
07/25/2019 | 08/02/2019 | $7,577 | $7,577 | 08/20/2019 |
| 9. | 01009 | Serious | 19100134 H02 II A – Kept accessible to the work area; | 07/25/2019 | 08/02/2019 | $13,260 | $13,260 | 08/20/2019 |
| 10. | 01010 | Serious |
19101200 E01 – Employers shall develop, implement, and maintain at each workplace, a written hazard communication program which at least describes how the criteria specified in paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) of this section for labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training will be met, and which also includes the following: |
07/25/2019 | 08/16/2019 | $7,577 | $7,577 | 08/20/2019 |
| 11. | 02001 | Other | 19040007 B05 – recordkeeping | 07/25/2019 | 08/02/2019 | $1,895 | $1,895 | 08/20/2019 |
| 12. | 02002 | Other |
19100120 G05 VIII – PPE inspection procedures prior to, during, and after use, |
07/25/2019 | 08/16/2019 | $0 | $0 | 08/20/2019 |
| 13. | 02003 | Other |
19100134 E01 – The employer shall provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee’s ability to use a respirator, before the employee is fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace. The employer may discontinue an employee’s medical evaluations when the employee is no longer required to use a respirator. |
07/25/2019 | 08/16/2019 | $0 | $0 | 08/20/2019 |