OSHA fines ConocoPhillips refinery in Pennsylvania
OSHA has cited ConocoPhillips Co. for safety and health violations, proposing $116,500 in penalties, according to a December 23 agency news release. The Trainer, Pa. petroleum refinery has 425 employees.
OSHA said it initiated its investigation on June 19, 2008, as part of a National Emphasis Program focus on petroleum refinery process safety management. As a result, the company has been issued 26 serious violations, with a penalty of $91,500, and one repeat violation, with a penalty of $25,000.
The repeat violation is due to the company's failure to review operating procedures as often as necessary. OSHA issues repeat violations when it finds a substantially similar violation of any standard, regulation, rule or order.
The serious violations alleged the company' failed to provide the appropriate devices for material storage; to properly document its use of equipment; to establish a system to promptly address hazard analysis findings; to address the hazard of explosion in occupied buildings; to address human factors; to develop and implement operating procedures; to provide appropriate training; to confirm all requirements of pre-startup safety review were in place; to follow management of change procedures; and to correct deficiencies that were outside of acceptable limits.
A serious citation is issued when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known, according to OSHA.
OSHA said it initiated its investigation on June 19, 2008, as part of a National Emphasis Program focus on petroleum refinery process safety management. As a result, the company has been issued 26 serious violations, with a penalty of $91,500, and one repeat violation, with a penalty of $25,000.
The repeat violation is due to the company's failure to review operating procedures as often as necessary. OSHA issues repeat violations when it finds a substantially similar violation of any standard, regulation, rule or order.
The serious violations alleged the company' failed to provide the appropriate devices for material storage; to properly document its use of equipment; to establish a system to promptly address hazard analysis findings; to address the hazard of explosion in occupied buildings; to address human factors; to develop and implement operating procedures; to provide appropriate training; to confirm all requirements of pre-startup safety review were in place; to follow management of change procedures; and to correct deficiencies that were outside of acceptable limits.
A serious citation is issued when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known, according to OSHA.
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