Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002 Hazard: OTHER

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees could be exposed to high levels of ammonia vapors: a.) in that the ammonia valves located on the south side of the building of the Essence Tank Farm could not be easily and safely accessed, as observed on or about January 23, 2009. Due to a damaged security fence running along the property line, the barbed-wire portion of the fence was within a few inches of the valves and piping exposing employees to the barbed- wire when doing monthly maintenance. The proximity of the valves and the barbed-wire to each other also made it difficult for the refrigeration technicians to see the position of the valves which could result in a release. Abatement Note(s): Means of feasible abatement include but may not be limited to: 1) relocating the valves to another area of the system; or, 2) having the security fence repaired or relocated at a distance which would allow safe access.