Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 003B Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.119(f)(1)(i)(D): The employer did not develop and implement written operating procedures that provide clear instructions for emergency shutdown, including the conditions under which emergency shutdown is required, and the assignment of shutdown responsibility to qualified operators to ensure that emergency shutdown is executed in a safe and timely manner: Employees engaged in production activities throughout the facility were exposed to chemical hazards associated with the catastrophic release of Ammonia in that all of the current operating procedures for ammonia process equipment including but not limited to the Frick Ammonia Screw Compressor OP-C-4, OP-C-5, and OP-B-1 did not reflect any discussion about the handling of the emergency situation. The operating procedures did not include information explaining how to determine when it is safe to enter the engine room or what personal protective equipment to wear before entering to isolate the leaking equipment. a) On or about March 03, 2015, Baked Plant/Engine Room, an employee entered the engine room to perform valve closing to isolate the gasket leaking at the C-4 compressor. The employee was exposed to hazards in that a portable ammonia detector was not utilized to assess the unknown ammonia concentration levels prior to perform the task. b) On or about March 3, 2015, Baked Plant/Engine Room, an employee entered the engine room to perform valve closing to isolate the gasket leaking at the C-4 compressor. The employee had a full beard while wearing a full-face respirator. Employee was exposed to respiratory hazards in that an efficient seal was not established to protect him from exposure to the unknown ammonia concentration levels. 29 CFR 1903.19(d)(1) requires certification and documentation that the abatement of the above violation is completed.