OSHA Inspection: LOST RIVER TRUCKING

Issued

2015-08-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-09-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $4900.00

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): 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 respiratory hazards during tank gauging and crude oil sampling operations:    (a)   Lost River Oilfield Services, Crossroads Blvd. & CR 17, West 2/10, Windsor, CO 80550:  On and before March 15, 2015, Lost River Oilfield Services 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 respiratory hazards during tank gauging and crude oil sampling operations.  Employees performed gauging and sampling of crude oil at the oil well tank battery.  Employees performed these tasks at open thief hatches and adjacent to opened blow down vents.  Flammable hydrocarbon gases were vented through open thief hatches and blow down vents.  On March 15, 2015 a worker was exposed to an oxygen deficient atmosphere and high concentrations of hydrocarbon gases and vapors.  The employer did not develop and utilize procedures for gauging and sampling that did not expose employees to an oxygen deficient atmosphere and hydrocarbon gases and vapors.  This condition exposed employees to respiratory hazards.      Abatement Note:  Among other methods, feasible abatement methods include:    (1)  Installation and use of ground level tank gauges to eliminate need for employees to climb onto tanks to perform tank gauging.  Refer to American Petroleum Institute Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards Chapter 3.1B "Standard Practice for Level Measurement of Liquid Hydrocarbons in Stationary Tanks by Automatic Tank Gauging".    (2)  Use of crude oil sampling methods that do not require access through an open thief hatch, i.e., tank taps or use of vapor control valves with restricted or closed sampling equipment.  Refer to American Petroleum Institute Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards Chapter 8.1 "Standard Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products" Section 9 "Sampling Requirements, Considerations, and Procedures".

Issued

2015-08-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-09-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $3500.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(d)(1)(iii): The employer did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard in the workplace:    (a) Lost River Oilfield Services, Crossroads Blvd. & CR 17, West 2/10, Windsor, CO 80550:  On and before March 15, 2015, Lost River Oilfield Services did not identify and evaluate the respiratory hazard in the workplace.  Employees performed venting of tanks, gauging, and sampling of crude oil at the oil well tank battery.  Employees performed these tasks at open thief hatches and adjacent to opened blow down vents.  Flammable hydrocarbon gases were vented through open thief hatches and blow down vents.  The employer did not evaluate employee exposure to respiratory hazards, including oxygen deficient atmospheres and hydrocarbon gases and vapors, including benzene.  This condition exposed employees to respiratory hazards.    Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").

Issued

2015-08-04 00:00:00

Abate by

2015-09-08 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $3500.00 · Current $3500.00

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(h)(1): Employer had not provided employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new chemical hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area:    Lost River Oilfield Services, Crossroads Blvd. & CR 17, West 2/10, Windsor, CO 80550:  On and before March 15, 2015, Lost River Oilfield Services  had not provided employees with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and whenever a new chemical hazard the employees have not previously been trained about is introduced into their work area.  Employees performed gauging and sampling of crude oil at the oil well tank battery.  Employees performed these tasks at open thief hatches and adjacent to opened blow down vents.  Flammable hydrocarbon gases were vented through open thief hatches and blow down vents.  On January 21, 2015 and March 15, 2015 workers were exposed to an oxygen deficient atmosphere and high concentrations of hydrocarbon gases and vapors.  The employer did not train employees with regards to oxygen deficient atmospheres, which are Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH).  This condition exposed employees to a respiratory hazard.