OSHA Inspection: OXBOW CALCINING L.L.C.

Issued

Mar 19, 2009

Abate by

Mar 23, 2009

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $6,300

Issued

Mar 19, 2009

Abate by

Mar 23, 2009

Penalty

Initial $6,300 · Current $6,300

Issued

Mar 19, 2009

Abate by

Apr 1, 2009

Penalty

Initial $63,000 · Current $6,300 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5 (a) (1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer does not
furnish employment and a place of employment which are free from
recognized hazards that
were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that
employees are exposed to the recognized hazards of excessive heat and
steam explosion
associated with a petroleum coke settling chamber:
The employer violated this standard on or about on September 21, 2008,
where the employer
deviated from established operating procedures while working with heated
petroleum coke,
exposing employees to the hazard of burns and injury from projected
debris.  The risk of
catastrophic release of heated petroleum coke and steam was increased
where the employer
failed to perform regular inspection of equipment due to excessive slag
build-up in the
chamber.
A feasible method to eliminate or reduce the hazard would be to ensure the
established
operating procedures are followed and sufficient time given as annotated
in the operating
procedures for proper cooling of the petroleum coke.  Additionally, an
inspection,
maintenance, and cleaning schedule would ensure the chamber is maintained
in a safe
operating condition.
Pursuant to 29 CFR 1903.19, the employer must submit an abatement plan
within 10 days
describing the actions it is taking to ensure established operating and
maintenance
procedures are utilized.