ALVIN, TX ·
OSHA Inspection: ASCEND PERFORMANCE MATERIALS
Referral inspection · Safety discipline
At a glance
On , OSHA opened a referral safety inspection of ASCEND PERFORMANCE MATERIALS in FM 2917 RD., ALVIN, TX 77511 (NAICS 325199). OSHA activity number 339602377.
OSHA opens inspections for many reasons: routine scheduling under a national or local emphasis program, an employee complaint or referral, or a follow-up after a reported injury. Opening or conducting an inspection is not itself an allegation or a finding that this employer broke any rule; any findings appear as the citations listed below, and citations can be contested, reduced, or withdrawn.
Where did this inspection happen?
- Establishment
- ASCEND PERFORMANCE MATERIALS
- Site address
- FM 2917 RD.
- City
- ALVIN
- State
- TX
- ZIP
- 77511
- Mailing
- FM 2917 RD., ALVIN, TX 77511
What kind of inspection was it?
- Inspection type
- Referral (C)
- Scope
- Partial (B)
- Discipline
- Safety
- Advance notice
- No
- Union status
- Non-union (B)
When did the case open and close?
- Opened
- Closing conference
- Case closed
- Last modified
- Data loaded
Establishment context
- NAICS code
- 325199
- Employees
- 2200
- Ownership type
- Private (A)
Citations
7 citations on file for this inspection.
1910.119 D
- Issued
- Aug 7, 2014
- Abate by
- Sep 7, 2014
- Penalty
- Initial $3,000 · Current $0 Reduced
1440
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.119(d): The employer did not complete a compilation of written process safety information pertaining to the equipment in the process. On March 3, 2014 and at times prior thereto and possibly times subsequent thereto, in the AN7 Unit of the Ascend Performance Materials' Chocolate Bayou manufacturing facility in Alvin, Texas, the P&ID (70FD-172) of the Purification Sections Liquid HCN Distribution piping did not accurately represent the piping in the Unit.
Recent events (3)
- · C (S) $3000
- · F (S) $0
- · Z (S) $3000
1910.119 E03 I
- Issued
- Aug 7, 2014
- Abate by
- Sep 7, 2014
- Penalty
- Initial $7,000 · Current $3,500 Reduced
1440
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.119(e)(3)(i): The process hazard analysis did not address the hazards of the process. IN THE ALTERNATIVE 29 CFR 1910.119(e)(1): The process hazard analysis was not appropriate for the complexity of the process and did not identify, evaluate, and control the hazards involved in the process. On February 24, 2014 and at times prior thereto and possibly times subsequent thereto, in the AN7 Unit of the Ascend Performance Materials' Chocolate Bayou manufacturing facility in Alvin, Texas, the process hazard analysis of the Sulfur Dioxide System did not consider the complexity of the process when the employer did not address the hazard of Hydrogen Cyanide bypassing the check valves in the SO2 piping and being released to atmosphere through the vent in the Sulfur Dioxide piping system.
Recent events (3)
- · C (S) $7000
- · F (S) $3500
- · Z (S) $7000
1910.119 F01 III B
- Issued
- Aug 7, 2014
- Abate by
- Sep 7, 2014
- Penalty
- Initial $7,000 · Current $5,000 Reduced
14402290
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.119(f)(1)(iii)(B): The employer did not develop and implement written operating procedures that provided clear instructions for safely conducting activities involved in each covered process consistent with the process safety information which addressed precautions necessary to prevent exposure, including engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment. On February 24, 2014 and at times prior thereto and possibly times subsequent thereto, in the AN7 Unit of the Ascend Performance Materials' Chocolate Bayou manufacturing facility in Alvin, Texas, the employer failed to implement administrative controls, such as but not limited to its car seal program, to ensure that valves in the vent piping remained in the desired position during operation.
Recent events (3)
- · C (S) $7000
- · F (O) $5000
- · Z (S) $7000
1910.119 F03
- Issued
- Aug 7, 2014
- Abate by
- Sep 7, 2014
- Penalty
- Initial $6,000 · Current $6,000
14402290
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.119(f)(3): The employer did not annually certify that operating procedures were current and accurate. On February 24, 2014 and at times prior thereto and possibly times subsequent thereto, in the AN7 Unit of the Ascend Performance Materials' Chocolate Bayou manufacturing facility in Alvin, Texas, the employer failed to annually certify that operating procedures for the AN7 process unit are current and accurate. a) Ascend operating procedure AN7-C3.10 was not reviewed annually to assure that the procedure accurately represents the practice. b) Ascend operating procedure AN7-C3.11 was not reviewed annually to assure that the procedure accurately represents the practice.
Recent events (3)
- · C (S) $6000
- · F (O) $6000
- · Z (S) $6000
1910.119 J04 I
- Issued
- Aug 7, 2014
- Abate by
- Sep 7, 2014
- Penalty
- Initial $7,000 · Current $0 Reduced
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.119(j)(4)(i): The employer did not perform inspection and tests on process equipment. On February 24, 2014and at times prior thereto and possibly times subsequent thereto, in the AN7 Unit of the Ascend Performance Materials' Chocolate Bayou manufacturing facility in Alvin, Texas, the employer did not perform inspections and tests on process equipment at frequency adequate to ensure integrity. Check valves in the SO2 piping were not inspected to ensure proper operation.
Recent events (3)
- · C (S) $7000
- · F (S) $0
- · Z (S) $7000
1910.119 J04 III
- Issued
- Aug 7, 2014
- Abate by
- Sep 7, 2014
- Penalty
- Initial $0 · Current $0
General-duty citation text
29 CFR 1910.119(j)(4)(iii): The frequency of inspections and tests of process equipment was not consistent with applicable manufacturers recommendations and good engineering practices, and more frequently if determined to be necessary by prior operating experience. On February 24, 2014 and at times prior thereto and possibly times subsequent thereto, in the AN7 Unit of the Ascend Performance Materials' Chocolate Bayou manufacturing facility in Alvin, Texas, the employer did not perform inspections and tests on process equipment at frequency adequate to ensure integrity. Check valves in the SO2 piping were not inspected to ensure proper operation.
Recent events (3)
- · C (S) $0
- · F (S) $0
- · Z (S) $0
1910.119 L01
- Issued
- Aug 7, 2014
- Abate by
- Sep 7, 2014
- Penalty
- Initial $7,000 · Current $0 Reduced
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. On February 24, 2014 and at times prior thereto and possibly times subsequent thereto, in the AN7 Unit of the Ascend Performance Materials' Chocolate Bayou manufacturing facility in Alvin, Texas, the employer did not manage changes that affect a covered Process. a) The employer did not update its operating procedures to reflect the practice of operating the SO2 system with the SO2 control cabinet open and did not update process safety information to reflect such change. b) The employer did not update process safety information for the SO2 system when instrumentation was removed from the SO2 piping.
Recent events (3)
- · C (S) $7000
- · F (S) $0
- · Z (S) $7000
More inspections at Ascend Performance Materials
View Ascend Performance Materials's full OSHA safety record →
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Source
This record is reproduced from the U.S. Department of Labor Open Data API (OSHA inspection dataset). OSHA publishes its own view of this case as inspection number 339602377.
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