OSHA Inspection: WESTERN REFINING COMPANY, L.P.

Issued

2011-01-13 00:00:00

Abate by

2011-02-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $6300.00 · Current $6300.00

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 were likely to cause death or serious physical harm  to
employees in that
employees were exposed to the condition(s) listed below:
On or about June 18, 2010, employees were exposed to flammable vapors due
to a hazardous
release of flammable materials from the Vapor Recovery Unit, while
switching vapor recovery
unit pumps. The Vapor Recovery Unit system interlock was reset and this
caused an increase
in vapor pressure and caused the pressure relief valve from the vapor line
system to release
flammable vapors into the atmosphere: 1) The employer did not follow their
established Switch
Vacuum Pump at Vapor Recovery Unit Procedure (MKT-NP-4822), while
switching vapor
recovery unit pumps. 2) The employer did not identify the Vapor Recovery
Unit interlock
system in their Switch Vacuum Pump at Vapor Recovery Unit Procedure
(MKT-NP-4822).
The
procedure does not include any instructions for the interlock system and
what is expected of
employees to reset or not reset the interlock system. 3) The employer did
not train all operators
on the Switch Vacuum Pump at Vapor Recovery Unit Procedure (MKT-NP-4822).
4) The
employer did not evaluate mechanical and system design features in the
Vapor Recovery Unit,
that are likely to produce significant human error. 5) The employer did
not update the Vapor
Recovery Unit - Piping & Instrument Diagram (PD-53-45304-001), when
mechanical changes
were performed in the Vapor Recovery Unit.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE METHOD TO
CORRECT THIS HAZARD IS: 1) Ensure that operators and lead operators follow
the
established procedure Switch Vacuum Pump at Vapor Recovery Unit Procedure
(MKT-NP-4822)
when switching Vapor Recovery Unit pumps. 2) Include written procedures
for the Vapor
Recovery Unit interlock system in the Switch Vacuum Pump at Vapor Recovery
Unit
Procedure
(MKT-NP-4822), for employees to follow when switching Vapor Recovery Unit
pumps. 3)
Ensure that all employees are properly and effectively trained on the
Switch Vacuum Pump at
Vapor Recovery Unit Procedure (MKT-NP-4822). 4) Conduct an evaluation of
possible
significant human errors that may occur when operators are switching pumps
in the Vapor
Recovery Unit and implement written procedures, training and system design
to prevent human
error from creating a possible catastrophic event. 5) Ensure that existing
Piping & Instrument
Diagrams are updated on a timely manner to ensure that P&ID's reflect the
most current
mechanical and system changes.

Issued

2011-01-13 00:00:00

Abate by

2011-02-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3150.00 · Current $3150.00

Issued

2011-01-13 00:00:00

Abate by

2011-02-01 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3150.00 · Current $3150.00