The U.S. Department
of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has
cited Hovensa LLC for 56 alleged serious violations of workplace safety
and health standards at its oil refinery located in Christiansted, St.
Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
The company faces a total of $222,500 in proposed fines following two
OSHA inspections, a programmed inspection conducted as part of OSHA's
National Emphasis Program on Petroleum Refinery Process Safety
Management, and an inspection opened in response to a June 4 accident
in which three workers suffered serious burns after being sprayed with
hot boiler feed water while they were performing maintenance.
"OSHA's process safety management regulations are designed to reduce or
eliminate workplace hazards associated with the catastrophic release of
highly hazardous chemicals," said José A. Carpena , OSHA's area
director for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. "These
requirements are stringent and detailed because failure to comply can
seriously compromise the safety and health of workers."
The citations issued as a result of the programmed inspection address
the company's failure to properly document process safety information,
conduct proper process hazard analysis, comply with recognized and
generally accepted good engineering practices, obtain contractor safety
and health programs, properly train employees, conduct maintenance on
critical instruments and equipment, update operating procedures and
resolve incident investigation findings in a timely manner.
Additionally, OSHA has issued citations for not properly installing
metal stairs, maintaining ladders in a safe condition, supporting
piping systems and protecting them against physical damage and
excessive stress, and for equipment deficiencies, a lack of machine
guarding, and electrical and fire hazards.
The accident investigation resulted in citations for exposing workers
to the hazards of hot water and steam condensate, not developing and
documenting procedures to prevent the unintended release of hot water
and steam, and not training workers on the safe application, usage and
removal of energy control devices. OSHA issues a serious citation when
there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm
could result and the employer knew, or should have known, of the hazard.
"One means of helping ensure worker safety is for employers to
establish an effective safety and health management system through
which they and their employees work together to proactively evaluate,
identify and eliminate hazards before they result in injury or
illness," said Robert Kulick, OSHA's regional administrator in New York.
The oil refinery, which employs about 2,500 workers, has 15 business
days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply,
request an information conference with OSHA's area director or contest
the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health
Review Commission. The investigation was conducted by OSHA's Puerto
Rico Area Office; telephone: 787-277-1560.
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