OSHA Inspection: STERIGENICS INTERNATIONAL

Issued

Jan 19, 2016

Abate by

May 30, 2016

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(d)(3)(i)(D): Information pertaining to the equipment in the process did not include relief system design and design basis:    (a)  Chamber room, EO sterilization chamber 1:   On or prior to 7/22/15, the employer could and did not document the design and design basis for pressure relief valve PSV 301, Kunkle model 912BJHM01KE, since this valve has insufficient relief capacity to protect chamber 1 from nitrogen overpressure.     One acceptable and feasible means of abatement would be to provide and document a relief valve installation having sufficient capacity to protect chamber 1, such as, but not limited to, that specified by NFPA 55  2010, Section 14.8.3.

Issued

Jan 19, 2016

Abate by

May 30, 2016

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 (defined by the process safety information on paragraph (d) of this section) before use:      (a)  Chamber room, EO sterilization chamber 1:  On or prior to 7/22/15, the employer did not correct deficient valve PSV 301, Kunkle model 912BJHM01KE, to ensure that adequate relief capacity was provided to protect chamber 1 and employees against the hazards of nitrogen overpressure, including but not limited to chamber rupture, and ethylene oxide release toxic and explosion hazards.      One acceptable and feasible means of abatement would be to provide and document a relief valve installation having sufficient capacity to protect chamber 1, such as, but not limited to, that specified by NFPA 55  2010, Section 14.8.3.

Issued

Jan 19, 2016

Abate by

Oct 30, 2018

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,500 Reduced

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)  Chamber room, to the west of and in front of boiler room, chambers 4, 8, and 3:  On or prior to 7/22/15, the employer did not document that exterior wall(s) or roof were provided with explosion vents or similar protection such as, but not limited to, those specified by NFPA 560, section 11.3.1.3.

Issued

Jan 19, 2016

Abate by

Oct 30, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(d)(3)(iii): For existing equipment designed and constructed in accordance with codes, standards, or practices no longer in general use, the employer did not determine and document that the equipment in the process was designed, maintained, inspected, tested, and operating in a safe manner.    (a)  Gas room, west side of plant:   On or prior to 7/22/15, the employer did not document that covered process equipment was safe to operate, as both the process equipment and employees are exposed to the hazard of explosion, including but not limited to structural collapse.    Abatement note:   One acceptable and feasible means of abatement would be to provide and document the installation of explosion vents as specified in NFPA 55  2010, Section 14.11.2.1.1     (b)  Chamber room, to the west of and in front of boiler room, chambers 1, 2, 5, 6, and 9:  On or prior to 7/22/15, the employer did not document that covered process equipment was safe to operate, as both the process equipment and employees are exposed to the hazard of explosion, including but not limited to structural collapse.    Abatement note:   One acceptable and feasible means of abatement would be to provide and document the installation of explosion vents as specified in NFPA 55  2010, Section 14.11.2.1.1

Issued

Jan 19, 2016

Abate by

Oct 30, 2018

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(e)(3)(i): The Process Hazard Analysis did not address the hazards of the process:    (a)   2013 and prior PHA, EO Sterilization process:  On or prior to 7/22/15, the PHA did not address explosion relief hazard(s) associated with lack of explosion vent panel(s) in the west gas room     (b)  2013 and prior PHA, EO Sterilization process:  On or prior to 7/22/15, the PHA did not address explosion relief hazard(s) associated with lack of explosion vent panel(s) behind sterilization chambers 1 through 9.

Issued

Jan 19, 2016

Abate by

Nov 30, 2016

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(e)(5): The employer did not assure that PHA recommendations were resolved in a timely manner:    (a) 2013 PHA -- On or about 7/22/15, PHA recommendation 2 -- 2.1.11.1,   "Evaluate drum and EO line grounding system" with date to be completed by indicated as August 2014, was still in open status.    (b) 2013 PHA -- On or about 7/22/15, PHA recommendation 4  7.1.1.1,  "Determine if flanged connection of vacuum header can be located outside of boiler room" with date to be completed by indicated as May 2014, was still in open status.

Issued

Jan 19, 2016

Abate by

May 30, 2016

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $3,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(j)(2): The employer did not establish written procedures to maintain the on-going integrity of process equipment:      (a) Chamber room, north wall, behind chambers B, C, D, E:  On or prior to 7/22/15, written procedures were not established to maintain the onging integrity of CS Explovent explosion relief vent panels.    (b) Gas storage room 2, east wall:  On or prior to 7/22/15, written procedures were not established to maintain the onging integrity of CS Explovent explosion relief vent panels.

Issued

Jan 19, 2016

Abate by

May 30, 2016

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    (a) Chamber room, north wall, behind chambers B, C, D, E:  On or prior to 7/22/15, CS Explovent explosion relief vent panels were not inspected and tested for proper operation.    (b) Gas storage room 2, east wall:  On or prior to 7/22/15, CS Explovent explosion relief vent panels were not inspected and tested for proper operation.