OSHA Inspection: AMERIGAS

Issued

Feb 24, 2011

Abate by

May 20, 2011

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $3,500 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
in that
employees were exposed to fire and explosion hazards:
(a)Amerigas at 690 Railroad Blvd., Grand Junction, CO 81505:  On or before
2/3/11, the employer disposed of two 1,000 gallon propane tanks without
cleaning the
tanks and ensuring they were vapor free.  Employees emptied the propane
tanks, and
opened the tank ports by removing the valves and fittings, and then
transported the
tanks to Powderhorn Recreation & Development without further cleaning the
tanks
and rendering the tanks vapor-free.  The disposition of the tanks was
handled by
employees who were not trained in the handling of LP gas, and who were not
familiar
with safe disposition procedures.  Condition exposed employees to fire and
explosion
hazards.
Among other methods, some feasible and acceptable abatement methods to
correct
this hazard include:
(1)NFPA 30 (1993) Section 2-3.9 provides that tanks taken out of service
shall be
emptied of liquid, rendered vapor-free, and safeguarded against
trespassing;
(2)Amerigas Safety/Operations Policies and Procedures Manual AP #7.6
"Disposing of Unserviceable LP Gas Containers," provides:
Section I: "Disposing of LP gas containers may be done only by persons
trained in the handling of LP gas and familiar with this procedure."
Section II.C., "Preparation for Disposal by Scrapping," provides:
"Purge residual vapors by one of the following methods:"
1.Fill tank with a solution of 2 lbs. of Trisodium Phosphate to 100
gallons of water.  Let stand for 24 hours.  Drain...., or
2.Fill container with an inert gas, such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide, or;
3.Steam the container thoroughly; or
4.Fill container with water, let stand for 24 hours, then drain...
Section III, Preparation for Disposal by Selling, refers to Section II.C.
when
used as a water tank, and to Section II.C.1 or 3 when used as an air tank.
Condition exposed employees to fire and explosion hazards.
Abatement Note:  Abatement certification and documentation are required
for this item (seeenclosed "Sample Abatement-Certification Letter").