OSHA Inspection: CITGO REFINING & CHEMICALS COMPANY LP

Issued

Aug 27, 1997

Abate by

Sep 29, 1997

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $5,000

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:
a.At this location in the HF alkylation (alky) unit, employees were exposed
to the hazard of fire and/or explosion in that the air intake(s) of the old
alky control room ventilation system did not prevent the entrance of
flammable gases or vapors, such as, but not limited to, propane and/or
iso-butane into the old alky control room during a vapor release, i.e. such
as the vapor release which occurred in the alky unit on May 12, 1997.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct
this hazard is to provide monitoring device(s) at the air intake to detect
flammable
gases or vapors to give suitable warning and to have the device(s)
interlocked so
as to automatically shut down the air intake(s) as referenced in NFPA 496,
Chapter 3.
b.At this location in the HF alkylation (alky) unit, employees were exposed
to the hazard of exposure to be highly toxic hydrogen fluoride (HF)
vapors in that the air intake(s) of the old alky control room ventilation
system did not prevent the entrance of highly toxic HF vapors into the old
alky control room during a vapor release, i.e. such as the vapor release
which occurred in the alky unit on May 12, 1997.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct
this hazard is to provide monitoring device(s) at the air intake to detect
highly
toxic hydrogen fluoride vapors to give suitable warning and to have the
device(s)
interlocked so as to automatically shut down the air intake(s) as
referenced in
NFPA 496, Chapter 3.
*** Certification and Documentation of Abatement required ***

Issued

Aug 27, 1997

Abate by

Sep 29, 1997

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,500 Reduced

Issued

Aug 27, 1997

Abate by

Sep 14, 1997

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $100 Reduced

Issued

Aug 27, 1997

Abate by

Sep 14, 1997

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $2,500