OSHA Inspection: SUBURBAN PROPANE L.P.

Issued

Jun 25, 1996

Abate by

Nov 1, 1996

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $1,900 Reduced

General-duty citation text

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 were exposed to the
hazards of fire and explosion from the ignition of flammable gas escaping
from tanks being serviced or
filled with liquid propane(LP):
Ventilation in the Fill Room at the facility on May 28, 1996, was not
adequate to prevent the
accumulation of flammable LP gas in all parts of the Fill Room where it
may be released or settle.
Among other methods to correct this condition, the employer could:
1) Redesign and install an effective mechanical ventilation system which
will provide an adequate
purge of stagnate hydrocarbons in all parts of the room at no less than a
minimum of 1 CFM
(cubic foot per minute) of air flow per square foot of floor area of the
Fill Room so that the
entire floor area is vented in accordance with an industry consensus
standard,
NFPA (National
Fire Protection Association) #58, or,
2) Provide natural ventilation openings in the Fill Room designed in
accordance with current
engineering design principles, to ensure the minimum 1 CFM per square foot
of floor area rate
and a uniform venting of the entire floor area as much as practical and in
accordance with NFPA
#58.

Issued

Jun 14, 1996

Abate by

Jun 20, 1996

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,200 Reduced

Issued

Jun 14, 1996

Abate by

Jun 20, 1996

Penalty

Initial $1,875 · Current $1,200 Reduced

Issued

Jun 14, 1996

Abate by

Jun 20, 1996

Penalty

Initial $1,500 · Current $1,200 Reduced

Issued

Jun 14, 1996

Abate by

Jun 20, 1996

Issued

Jun 14, 1996

Abate by

Jun 20, 1996

Penalty

Initial $1,500