Violation Detail
Standard Cited: 19100119 D03 II Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals.
Inspection Nr: 1565223.015
Citation: 01004A
Citation Type: Serious
Abatement Date: 04/21/2022 2
Initial Penalty: $14,502.00
Current Penalty: $7,251.00
Issuance Date: 03/28/2022
Nr Instances: 12
Nr Exposed: 33
Related Event Code (REC): R
Gravity: 10
Report ID: 0317300
Contest Date:
Final Order: 07/13/2022
Emphasis:
Substance: 0170
Type | Latest Event | Event Date | Penalty | Abatement Due Date | Citation Type | Failure to Abate Inspection |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Penalty | I: Informal Settlement | 07/13/2022 | $7,251.00 | 04/21/2022 | Serious | |
Penalty | Z: Issued | 03/28/2022 | $14,502.00 | 04/21/2022 | Serious |
Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 004A Hazard:
29 CFR 1910.119(d)(3)(ii): The employer did not document that equipment complies with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices: (a) House Engine Room, Gray Roll Up Manual Door: On or about 10-1-2021, the employer did not comply with their chosen recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices (RAGAGEP) IIAR 2-2014 6.10.2 when doors to the engine room were not self-closing and tight-fitting (e.g. designed to act as part of the equipment system to provide a secondary containment for releases of ammonia from equipment in the machine room such that the ammonia does not migrate outside the machine room). In particular, the engine room doors were rollup doors left in the open position. Failure to ensure machinery doors are self-closing and tight-fitting can cause anhydrous ammonia to migrate outside of the machinery room exposing employees outside of the machinery room to toxic and fire hazards (b) House Ammonia Engine Room: On or about 10-1-2021, the employer did not document that equipment complies with employer's chosen RAGAGEP IIAR 2-2014 Section 6.10.2, when doors that are part of the means of egress were not equipped with panic hardware for occupants leaving the machinery room. . Failure to ensure machinery doors are equipped with panic hardware can result in delayed emergency evacuation from the machinery room and exposure to fire and toxic hazard. (c) FRIGO Engine Rooms: On or about 10-1-2021, the employer did not comply with their chosen RAGAGEP IIAR 2-2014 Section 6.15, when signage such as NFPA 704 placards, alarms, restricted access, and emergency control switch did not exist. Failure to provide appropriate signage such as restricted personnel access to machinery room could lead to unauthorized employees accessing/operating anhydrous ammonia equipment without proper training resulting in a loss of containment. (d) House Engine Room: On or about 10-1-2021, the employer did not comply with their chosen RAGAGEP IIAR 2-2014 Section 6.15 when signage such as s NFPA 704 placards, alarms, restricted access, and emergency control switch did not exist. Failure to provide appropriate signage such as restricted personnel access to machinery room could lead to unauthorized employees accessing/operating anhydrous ammonia equipment without proper training resulting in a loss of containment (e) FRIGO Engine Room: On or about 10-1-2021, the employer did not comply with their chosen RAGAGEP IIAR 2-2014 Section 6.14.3 .6, when the exhaust fans in the engine room was not equipped with non-sparking blades. Failure to ensure that the machinery room exhaust fans are non-sparking could result in unintended ignition of ammonia vapors during a release. Employees work on or near ammonia equipment of a regular basis. A release occurred in July of 2021. No injuries were reported. (f) FRIGO Engine Room: On or about 10-1-2021, the employer did not comply with their RAGAGEP ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2010 and IIAR Bulletin No. 109 as emergency ventilation fans were not on a separate electrical circuit and did not have a control switch immediately outside the rooms' doors. (g) House Engine Room: On or about 10-1-2021, the employer did not comply with their chosen RAGAGEP ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15-2010 and IIAR Bulletin No. 109 as emergency ventilation fans were not on a separate electrical circuit and did not have a control switch immediately outside the rooms' doors. (h) FRIGO Engine Room: On or about 10-1-2021, the employer did not comply with employer's chosen RAGAGEP IIAR 2-2014 6.12.1, when a clearly identified emergency shut-off switch with a tamper resistant cover was not located outside and adjacent to the designated principal machinery room door. (i) House Engine Room: On or about 10-1-2021, the employer did not comply with employer's chosen RAGAGEP IIAR 2-2014 6.12.1, when a clearly identified emergency shut-off switch with a tamper resistant cover was not located outside and adjacent to the designated principal machinery room door. (j) FRIGO Engine Room: On or about 10-1-2021, the employer did not comply with employer's chosen RAGAGEP, IIAR 2-2014 Section 6.7.3 when eyewash units inside the engine room were not maintained on a weekly basis to ensure proper function (i.e., suitable flushing of the eyes and body for immediate emergency use) to comply with ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 and IIAR 6 table 12.5 Required Inspection, Maintenance and Testing (2019). Failure to provide functioning eyewash stations can cause chemical burns to the eyes or skin while working in an area where anhydrous ammonia could be inadvertently released. (k) Exterior of the FRIGO Engine Room: The employer did not document that equipment complied with their chosen RAGAGEP, IIAR 2-2014 Section 6.7.1 when a second eyewash/safety shower unit was not placed outside of the machinery room. Failure to provide a second eyewash station outside the machinery room can cause chemical burns to the eyes or skin if an employee were to be exposed while working in an area where anhydrous ammonia could be inadvertently released. (l) House Engine Room: On or about 10/1/2021: The employer did not document that process piping which contained substances including but not limited to high pressure liquid ammonia, high pressure ammonia vapor, and low pressure ammonia vapor complied with RAGAGEP such as but not limited to IIAR 2-2014 Section 5.14.2, and IIAR Bulletin 114 -2019 in that the pipes in the engine room were not labeled to identify the refrigerant contained within that piping segment (i.e., ammonia), the physical state of the refrigerant, relative pressure level of the refrigerant and direction of flow. Failure to properly label process equipment can lead to human error (i.e., opening the incorrect valve) when operating or performing maintenance on ammonia refrigeration process equipment, exposing employees to fire, explosion, and toxic release hazards. Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit abatement certification and documentation, required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.