A release of methyl chloride last May brought OSHA inspectors to Akzo Nobel Surface Chemistry LLC in Morris, Illinois, where they found numerous violations of the agency's process safety management standards.

The manufacturer of chemical surfactants received nine serious violations, for failing to conduct a process hazard analysis on the hydrogen storage and transfer unit, allowing seven pressure relief valves to be missing the required design basis, failing to ensure that written operating procedures covered abnormal operating situations, failing to record required equipment inspections and conduct testing at required intervals, allowing unqualified individuals to conduct equipment inspections, failing to take action to correct deficiencies noted during equipment inspections, failing to conduct a management of change analysis when required and failing to respond to deficiencies noted in an audit.

Proposed fines total $63,000.

OSHA's standards contain specific requirements for the management of hazards associated with processes using dangerous chemicals. Additional information is available online at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/processsafetymanagement/index.html.