OSHA Inspection: CENTERPOINT ENERGY GAS TRANSMISSION, LLC

Issued

Jan 10, 2013

Abate by

Jan 28, 2013

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(e)(5): The employer did not establish a system to assure that the process hazard analysis team's recommendations are resolved in a timely manner and that the resolution is documented:    The employer does not ensure that a system is established to assure that the process hazard analysis teams recommendations or findings are resolved in a timely manner and that the resolution(s) is documented.    The violation occurred in the Leedey Gas Refrigeration plant where employees were exposed to inhalation, fire and explosion hazards from potential releases of hydrocarbons and/or flammable liquids or gasses without ensuring that the action items and/or finding from the 2005 Initial Leedey Gas Refrigeration Plant PHA were resolved and resolutions documented in a timely manner.    Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the abatement date the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps it is taking to ensure that a system is established to promptly address PHA teams action items and findings and that resolutions of the finding and action items are documented.

Issued

Jan 10, 2013

Abate by

Apr 30, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(j)(5): The employer did not correct deficiencies in equipment that were outside acceptable limits in a timely manner:    The employer does not ensure deficiencies outside of acceptable limits for equipment are corrected in a timely manner.    The violation occurred in the Leedey Gas Refrigeration plant where employees were exposed to inhalation, fire and explosion hazards from potential releases of hydrocarbons and/or flammable liquids or gasses without ensuring that the deficiencies of the control room identified in the 2005 Initial and the 2010 Revalidation PHAs facility siting reviews were corrected in a timely manner.    Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the abatement date the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps it is taking to ensure that control room deficiencies are corrected in a timely manner.

Issued

Jan 10, 2013

Abate by

Jan 28, 2013

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(f)(1)(ii):  The employer's written operating procedures did not address the following requirements for the operating limits:      (A) Consequences of deviation      (B) Steps required correcting or avoiding deviation    The employer does not ensure that written operating procedures address the consequence of deviation and the steps to be taken to correct or avoid deviation for the safe upper and lower limits of the process.     This violation occurred in the Leedey Gas Refrigeration Plant where employees were exposed to inhalation, fire and explosion hazards from potential releases of hydrocarbons and/or flammable liquids or gasses.    Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the abatement date the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps it is taking to ensure that the standard operating procedures address the consequence of deviation and steps that are to be taken to avoid or correct the deviation from the safe upper and lower limits of the process.

Issued

Jan 10, 2013

Abate by

Jan 28, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(f)(1)(iv)  The employer did not list in its operating procedures, the specific safety systems and their functions     The employer does not ensure that the written operating procedures list the specific safety systems and their functions.     This violation occurred in the Leedey Gas Refrigeration Plant where employees were exposed to inhalation, fire and explosion hazards from potential releases of hydrocarbons and/or flammable liquids or gasses where the operating procedures did not list the safety system such as the Low Explosive Limit (LEL) detectors and emergency shut-down system (ESD).    Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the abatement date the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps it is taking to ensure that the written operating procedures list the specific safety systems and their functions.

Issued

Jan 10, 2013

Abate by

Jan 28, 2013

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(j)(2):  The employer did not establish and implement written procedures to maintain the on-going mechanical integrity of process equipment.    The employer does not ensure that written procedures are established and implemented to maintain the on-going mechanical integrity of process equipment.    The violation occurred in the Leedey Gas Refrigeration Plant where employees were exposed to inhalation, fire and explosion hazards from potential releases of hydrocarbons and/or flammable liquids or gasses without ensuring that written procedures were established and implemented for testing and inspecting of interlocks and controls designated/credited as a safeguard(s) such as but not limited to:    1.	Interlock associated with PSH 531  2.	Interlock associated with LSH 432  3.	Interlock associated with TSH 400  4.	Interlock associated with TSH 234  5.	Interlock associated with TSL 234    Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the abatement date the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps it is taking to ensure that written procedures are written and implemented for the testing and inspection of equipment designated as process safeguards.

Issued

Jan 10, 2013

Abate by

Jan 28, 2013

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(j)(4)(i): The employer did not perform inspection and tests on process equipment    The employer does not ensure that controls and instruments designated or credited in the PHA as safeguards were inspected and tested to maintain the on-going mechanical integrity of process equipment.    The violation occurred in the Leedey Gas Refrigeration Plant where employees were exposed to inhalation, fire and explosion hazards from potential releases of hydrocarbons and/or flammable liquids or gasses without ensuring that designated and credited safeguards are tested and inspected such as but not limited to:    1.	Interlock associated with PSH 531  2.	Interlock associated with LSH 432  3.	Interlock associated with TSH 400  4.	Interlock associated with TSH 234  5.	Interlock associated with TSL 234    Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the abatement date the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps it is taking to ensure that instruments and controls designated or credited as safeguards in the PHA are tested and inspected.

Issued

Jan 10, 2013

Abate by

Jan 28, 2013

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(l)(1):  The employer did not establish and implement written procedures to manage changes to process chemicals, technology, equipment, and procedures; and, changes to facilities that affect a covered process:    The employer does not ensure that written procedures are established to implement changes to the process equipment.    The violation occurred in the Leedey Gas Refrigeration plant where employees were exposed to inhalation, fire and explosion hazards from potential releases of hydrocarbons and/or flammable liquids or gasses without ensuring management of change procedures were written and established for changes to the process such as but not limited to    1.	Change of the set pressure on PSV on V-450 Product Storage Tank from 400 to 375 psig  2.	Change of the set pressure on PSV on V-670 from 500 to 400 psig  3.	Change of the set pressure on PSV on E-231 from 1200 to 1050 psig.    Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the abatement date the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps it is taking to ensure that the written management of change procedures are implemented for the relief systems and vessel design (PSI) information changes.

Issued

Jan 10, 2013

Abate by

Jan 28, 2013

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(m)(1): The employer did not investigate each incident, which resulted in, or could reasonably have resulted in, a catastrophic release of a highly hazardous chemical in the workplace:    The employer does not ensure that incidents that could result in a catastrophic release of highly hazardous materials are investigated.    This violation occurred in the Leedey Gas Refrigeration Plant where employees were exposed to inhalation, fire and explosion hazards from releases of hydrocarbons and/or flammable liquids or gasses when relief valve(s) lifted or was challenged resulting in hydrocarbons being discharged to the atmosphere unmitigated.    Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the abatement date the employer must submit documentation showing that it is in compliance with the standard, including describing the steps it is taking to ensure that incidents such as the unplanned lifting of unmitigated relief valve(s) are investigated and correction actions taken if appropriate.