OSHA Inspection: CRESTWOOD MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

Issued

Nov 20, 2007

Abate by

Dec 17, 2007

Penalty

Initial $4,500 · Current $4,500

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:  Explosion hazard when the
Loveco 4-Burner
Box Hot Oil Heater failed to light on a number of times.  There were
approximately 6
attempts to light the heater, when on the last attempt, the heater
exploded.  There was an
excess amount of gas inside the box.  The employer did not ensure that the
box heater was
equipped with the proper safety mechanisms to prevent such an explosion.
Such safety
mechanisms include but not limited to the following:  alarms, sensors,
pressure relief
devices, and forced air vents. Also, the employer did not have a written
standard operating
procedure in place to handle situations to which a heater does not light.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE ABATEMENT
METHOD TO CORRECT THE HAZARD IS:
To ensure all heaters are equipped with the proper safety mechanisms to
prevent
an
accumulation of hazardous atmospheres to avoid an explosion.  Employer
should follow the
recommended practices/procedures in API for fired heaters.  Such as but
not limited to:  API
RP 556--Fired Heaters and Steam Generators and Std.560--Fired Heaters for
General
Refinery Service.