OSHA Inspection: PREMIER PACIFIC SEAFOODS, INC.

Issued

2012-08-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-12-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7000.00 · Current $5250.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0170

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(j)(4)(iii): The employer failed to ensure the frequency of inspections and tests of process equipment shall be consistent with applicable manufacturers' recommendations and good engineering practices, and more frequently if determined to be necessary by prior operating experience:      M/V Excellence, Refrigeration Plant:  On or about July 6, 2012 and at times prior thereto, the employer's failure to regularly inspect the mechanical integrity of the hot gas piping coil defrost piping and associated valves lead to piping and valve failure.  This condition created an initial anyhdrous ammonia leak, the inability to control the leak, and the subsequent catastrophic failure of the piping during repair.  Employees and contract employees were exposed to inhalation and eye and skin burn hazards.

Issued

2012-08-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-12-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7000.00 · Current $5250.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0170

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(k)(1): The employer had not issued a hot work permit for hot work operations conducted on or near a covered process:    M/V Excellence, Refrigeration Plant:  On or about July 6, 2013 and at times prior thereto, the employer failed to issue a hotwork permit prior to the commencement of work on the hot gas coil defrost piping.  This condition directly affected the safe removal of the associated piping and valving, created a catastrophic release of anhydrous ammonia, and resulted in inhalation and skin burn injuries to the personnel performing the work.

Issued

2012-08-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-12-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7000.00 · Current $5250.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0170

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(l)(1): The employer did not implement procedures to manage changes to process chemicals, technology, equipment, and procedures, and changes to facilities that affect a covered process:    M/V Excellence, Refrigeration Plant:  On or about July 6, 2012 and at times prior thereto, written procedures were not availlable to address hazards associated with the removal and elimination of the hot gas coil defrost piping and valving.  This condition exposed employees to the catastrophic release of anhydrous ammonia and resulted in inhalation and skin burn injuries resulting in hospitalization.

Issued

2012-08-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-12-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $7000.00 · Current $5250.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0170

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1915.89(c)(1): The employer did not ensure the use of a lock to prevent energization or startup, or the release of hazardous energy, before any servicing was started:    M/V Excellence, Refrigeration Plant:  On or about July 6, 2012 and at times prior thereto, the employer did not ensure the port and starboard valves for the coil hot gas defrost system were closed.  This condition did not isolate the hot gas line to be removed and directly lead to the release of the line's contents, emergency evacuation of the vessel, emergency evacuation of the marine terminal, and the hosptalization of workers due to anhydrous ammonia inhalation and skin burn injuries.

Issued

2012-08-29 00:00:00

Abate by

2012-12-03 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $38500.00 · Current $28875.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0170

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(d)(3)(ii): The employer did not document that equipment complies with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices:    (a)  M/V Excellence, Refrigeration Plant:  On or about July 13, 2012 and at times prior thereto, valve identification tags were either missing, removed, unreadable, or deteriorated to the point where they could not identify the specific valve.  For example, valves that isolated the port and starboard coils hot gas line were not labeled per the employer's Process Safety Management (PSM) Program which incorporated by reference IIAR Bulletin 114, "Identification of Ammonia Refrigeration Piping and System Components."  This condition exposed employees to inhalation and eye and skin burn hazards from the uncontrolled release of anyhdrous ammonia.    (b)  M/V Excellence, Refrigeration Plant:  On or about July 13, 2012 and at times prior thereto, valve identification tags were either missing, removed, unreadable, or deteriorated to the point where they could not identify the specific valve.  For example, valves that isolated the port and starboard individual coils were not labeled per the employer's Process Safety Management (PSM) Program which incorporated by reference IIAR Bulletin 114, "Identification of Ammonia Refrigeration Piping and System Components."  This condition exposed employees to inhalation and eye and skin burn hazards from the uncontrolled release of anyhdrous ammonia.          PREMIER PACIFIC SEAFOODS, INC. WAS PREVIOUSLY CITED FOR A VIOLATION OF THIS OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD WHICH WAS CONTAINED IN OSHA INSPECTION NUMBER 191992, CITATION NUMBER 1, ITEM NUMBER 1 B, ISSUED ON MARCH 23, 2012 WITH RESPECT TO A WORKPLACE LOCATED ON THE M/V EXCELLENCE, NORTH PACIFIC FUEL DOCK, DUTCH HARBOR, ALASKA.