OSHA Inspection: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY - LOUISIANA MILL

Issued

Apr 30, 1998

Abate by

May 26, 1998

Penalty

Initial $18,667 · Current $18,667

Issued

Apr 30, 1998

Abate by

May 26, 1998

Issued

Apr 30, 1998

Abate by

May 26, 1998

Issued

Apr 30, 1998

Abate by

May 11, 1998

Penalty

Initial $18,667 · Current $18,667

Issued

Apr 30, 1998

Abate by

Mar 31, 1999

Penalty

Initial $18,666 · Current $18,666

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
of International Paper Company, 705 Colliers Lane, Bastrop LA were exposed
to the collapse
of the North Heavy Black Liquor Storage Tank on or about October 31, 1997,
which exposed
the employees to the hazards and injuries related to the potential release
of large quantities of
black liquor (heavy and weak), green liquor and white liquor.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is
to;
a)Develop a mechanical integrity program for all the tanks that:
1. will take into consideration the higher corrosion rates of the kraft
liquors.
2. will increase the frequency of the scheduled inspections and
incorporates
the means
and methodology to continually monitor the tanks.
3. will develop a baseline inspection and determines the corrosion rate
from this baseline.
(i.e. the manufacturer of the tank conducts the initial UT of the entire
tank prior to the
tank being placed in service to obtain the actual thickness of the plates
instead of using
nominal dimensions. Then approx 1 year later the employer conducts another
UT on the
entire tank. This will establish the baseline and determine the corrosion
rate as long as
the service conditions do not change).
4. does not allow for the manipulation of data to extend the life of the
tanks. Calculations
should be conducted worst case conditions instead of instantaneous
conditions and should
be performed in the same manner for each tank.
5. will set the criteria to be used for the removal from service and the
replacement of
tanks once minimum thicknesses are reached. This criteria should be based
on the design
criteria for the tanks and the safety of the employees.
b)Tank evaluations of inspection results and any resulting calculations
should be conducted
by personnel qualified in tank design. The employer should provide or
require adequate
training to those assigned to conducting the calculations and evaluation
of the results.
experience should be defined using the same criteria as API 653 Para 4.10
criteria for
tank inspectors.
c)See a 4 above.
d)When modifying, changing or testing various materials or substances that
are to be added
to a tank, laboratory conditions should be utilized prior to actually
adding the materials
or substances into the tanks. This will determine the effects of the new
material or
substance on the tank shell or to the material already in the tank prior
to actual in-service
usage.
e)Change the location of where material (i.e. salt cake, black liquor,
steam, other
additives, etc) enters the tanks to prevent or limit the formation of
"gas" bubbles withinthe liquors. This will also assist in controlling the
corrosion problem since corrosive
material added from the bottom increases the corrosion rate of the tanks.
f)Tanks should be operated at all times within the limitations of the
design criteria.
g)See a 2 above.