OSHA Inspection: CENEX HARVEST STATES CO-OPERATIVES

Issued

Mar 30, 1999

Abate by

Sep 15, 2000

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,000 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:
(a)  Cenex Harvest States Cooperative, Laurel Refinery failed to take
corrective actions to
prevent an explosion in the 11 Tank which resulted in loss of containment
on November 30,
1998.  The hazards to employees include burns, overexposures to
hydrocarbons, and trauma
from flying metal.  Specific conditions which may have contributed to, or
did directly
contribute to the explosion and for which the employer failed to implement
corrective actions
include:
1.  The north heater and stack in 11 Tank was covered with coke, which
prevented adequate
heat transfer to the pitch in the tank and caused overheating of the vent
stack resulting in an
explosion.
2.  An additional heater was placed into service as a result of the
shutdown of the PDA Unit
and insufficient heating of the 11 Tank.  The two heater burners firing
continuously may
have contributed to the buildup of coke in the bottom of the tank.
3.  The operating procedures did not require turning off the burners in
the heaters prior to
transfer from the tank to reduce the potential of autoignition during the
period when
additional air is introduced transferring from 11 Tank.  Feasible
abatement to prevent
overheating of the stack could include the implementation of adequate
hazard identification,
operating procedures, and training procedures as required by API standard
2610, entitled
Design, Construction, Operation, Maintenance, and Inspection of Terminal &
Tank
Facilities, First Edition, July 1994, Sections 4.2, 4.3 and 4.7.
__ Abatement certification or documentation is NOT required for this item.
__ Abatement certification is required for this item.
X_ Abatement certification and documentation are required for this item.
__ Warning tag (or citation copy) required on this equipment before
moving.

Issued

Mar 30, 1999

Abate by

Dec 15, 1999

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $2,500 Reduced

Issued

Mar 30, 1999

Abate by

Sep 15, 2000

Penalty

Initial $25,000 · Current $15,000 Reduced