OSHA Inspection: ARCTIC GLACIER U.S.A., INC.

Issued

Apr 10, 2019

Abate by

Aug 7, 2019

Penalty

Initial $9,959 · Current $9,959

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(a): Application. Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, were not provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical contact:  a) Engine Room: The operator was required to use a portable ammonia direct-reading instrument when entering the engine room and when performing oil draining from the receiver located in a pit in the engine room.  The employer did not ensure that the portable ammonia direct-reading instrument was worn properly, calibrate, tested, and not missing any parts; on or about November 14, 2016.

Issued

May 8, 2017

Abate by

Aug 7, 2019

Penalty

Initial $7,967 · Current $7,967

Hazardous substances 0170

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.134(e)(1): The employer did not provide a medical evaluation to determine the employee's ability to use a respirator before the employee was fit tested or required to use the respirator in the workplace:    a) Engine Room - Pump Recirculator Vessel (PR-1):   The operator was required to wear a full-face respirator with air purifying cartridges during oil draining procedures and the employer had not previously provided a medical evaluation to determine that employee's ability to use respiratory protection; on or about 11/14/16.

Issued

May 8, 2017

Abate by

Aug 7, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $40,518

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.      b) Engine Room -  Main Doorway Entrance:   The employer did not document that the plastic strips hanging loose at the main doorway entrance to the engine room and the inwardly-opening, non-self-closing metal door chained open next to that entrance complied with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices, such as but not limited to Section 8.13.2 of ASHRAE 15-1994 Safety Standards for Refrigeration Systems which required that each refrigerating machinery room shall have tight-fitting doors which open outward, are self-closing if they open into the building, and that no openings exist that will permit passage of escaping refrigerant to other parts of the building.  This condition which exposed employees to a toxic hazard was observed on or about 11/14/16.    c) Engine Room - The employer did not document that the openings from the engine room through the electrical room which could permit passage of escaping anhydrous ammonia  through the electrical room and then into the loading dock area complied with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices, such as but not limited to Section 8.13.2 of ASHRAE 15-1994 Safety Standards for Refrigeration Systems which required that each refrigerating machinery room shall have tight-fitting doors which open outward, are self-closing if they open into the building, and that no openings exist that will permit passage of escaping refrigerant to other parts of the building. This condition which exposed employees to a toxic hazard was observed on or about 11/14/16.    d) Engine Room - Ice Maker 5:  The employer did not document that the pressure relief valve for the ice maker (set pressure 275 psig) which was used for the accumulator (maximum allowed working pressure 200 psig) complied with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices, such as but not limited to Section 9.5.1 of ASHRAE 15-1994 Safety Standards for Refrigeration Systems which required that pressure relief valves shall start to function at a pressure not to exceed the design pressure of the parts of the system protected.  This condition which exposed employees to a toxic hazard was observed on or about 12/19/17.    e) Engine Room - Ice Maker 6:  The employer did not document that the pressure relief valve for the ice maker (set pressure 275 psig) which was used for the accumulator (maximum allowed working pressure 200 psig) complied with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices, such as but not limited to Section 9.5.1 of ASHRAE 15-1994 Safety Standards for Refrigeration Systems which required that pressure relief valves shall start to function at a pressure not to exceed the design pressure of the parts of the system protected.  This condition which exposed employees to a toxic hazard was observed on or about 12/19/17.    f) Engine Room - Ice Maker 7:  The employer did not document that the pressure relief valve for the ice maker (set pressure 275 psig) which was used for the accumulator (maximum allowed working pressure 200 psig) complied with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices, such as but not limited to Section 9.5.1 of ASHRAE 15-1994 Safety Standards for Refrigeration Systems which required that pressure relief valves shall start to function at a pressure not to exceed the design pressure of the parts of the system protected.  This condition which exposed employees to a toxic hazard was observed on or about 12/19/17.    g) Engine Room - Ice Maker 8:  The employer did not document that the pressure relief valve for the ice maker (set pressure 275 psig) which was used for the accumulator (maximum allowed working pressure 200 psig) complied with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices, such as but not limited to Section 9.5.1 of ASHRAE 15-1994 Safety Standards for Refrigeration Systems which required that pressure relief valves shall start to function at a pressure not to exceed the design pressure of the parts of the system protected. This condition which exposed employees to a toxic hazard was observed on or about 12/19/17.    h) Engine Room- Frick Compressor RC-1 Oil Cooler:  The employer's process safety information indicated that the length of the installed relief valve outlet piping of 23 feet was greater than the maximum allowable length for the relief valve outlet piping of 9 feet.  The employer did not document that the length of the installed relief valve outlet piping complied with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices, such as but not limited to Section 9.7.8.5 of ASHRAE -15-2000 Safety Standards for Refrigeration Systems.  This condition which exposed employees to a toxic hazard was observed on or about 2/21/17.    i) Engine Room - Frick Compressor RC-2 Oil Cooler:  The employer's process safety information indicated that the length of the installed relief valve outlet piping of 31 feet was greater than the maximum allowable length of 9 feet for the relief valve outlet piping.  The employer did not document that the length of the installed relief valve outlet piping complied with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices, such as but not limited to Section 9.7.8.5 of ASHRAE -15-2000 Safety Standards for Refrigeration Systems.  This condition which exposed employees to a toxic hazard was observed on or about 2/21/17.    j) North and South Freezers - Evaporators (AU-1, AU-2, AU-3, AU-4, AU-5, AU-6, AU-7 and AU-8):   The employer did not document that the unlabeled ammonia refrigeration piping located in the freezers and was connected to the evaporators complied with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices, such as but not limited to IIAR - 114 -1991 Identification of Ammonia Refrigeration Piping and System Components, Section 2.0), which required all ammonia system piping mains, headers and branches to be identified as to the physical state of the refrigerant (i.e. vapor, liquid, etc.), the relative pressure level of the refrigerant and the direction of flow.  This condition which exposed employees to a toxic hazard was observed on or about 2/14/17.    l) Ammonia Refrigeration System - Covered Process: The employer's "Process Safety Information" document (pg. 12) did not contain accurate information in that it identified the maximum allowable working pressure (mawp) for Vogt Ice Makers 5, 6, 7, and 8 as 275 psig when the actual mawp was 200 psig as identified on the pressure vessel nameplate; on or about December 19, 2016.      REPEAT STATEMENT:      Arctic Glacier U.S.A., Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29 CFR 1910.119(d)(3)(ii), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 623559, citation number 1, item number 8b and was affirmed as a final order on June 28, 2013, with respect to a workplace located at 500 Fenimore Road, Mamaroneck, NY  10543.

Issued

May 8, 2017

Abate by

Aug 7, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $86,556

Hazardous substances 0170

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(j)(4)(iv): The employer did not document the date of inspection, the name of the person performing the inspection, the serial number or other identifier of the equipment on which the inspection or test was performed, a description of the inspection, and the results of the inspection for each piece of process equipment.    a)  Ammonia Refrigeration System - Rooftop Condenser piping:  The High Stage Discharge Line was observed to have corrosion and was deformed (bulging).  The employers piping inspection documentation failed to include information indicating when this pipe was last inspected, who inspected it, a description of the inspection, and the results of the inspection; on or about 1/18/17.     b)  Ammonia Refrigeration System - Condensers EC-1 and EC-2:   The record of daily inspection of the evaporators (e.g., 11/9/16, 11/10/16) did not document the findings of the inspections with respect to gauge pressures and temperatures and comparison of discharge pressures and temperatures with permissible/normal operating conditions as required by the employer's mechanical integrity program; on or about 1/26/17.    c) Engine Room - PR-1:   Extensive icing was observed on process piping under the vessel and the employer's piping inspection documentation failed to include information indicating when this pipe insulation and supports were last inspected, who inspected them, a description of the inspection, and the results of the inspection; on or about 12/12/16.    d) North and South Freezers: The daily inspection of the evaporators (e.g., 11/9/16, 11/10/16) did not document which evaporators were inspected and the findings of the inspection with respect to the following:   abnormal vibration and noise, comparison of the temperature with the permissible and normal operating conditions, trapped water in the drip pans and checks/adjustments of the settings of automatic defrost controls, as required by the company's mechanical integrity program; on or about 1/26/17.    e) Anhydrous Ammonia Refrigeration System:   The employer did not implement written procedures to maintain the ongoing integrity of the process equipment in that emergency stop for the ammonia refrigeration system was not tested annually in accordance with the company's mechanical integrity program; on or about 11/14/16.    f) Ammonia Refrigeration System:  The employer did not develop and implement written procedures to document the specific ammonia refrigeration piping inspected, the inspection or test performed at the time of the inspection and the results of the inspections for each piece of equipment; on or about 2/24/17.    g) Engine Room - Ice Maker 3:  The employer did not develop and implement written procedures to document the specific ammonia refrigeration piping inspected, and to identify when this section of pipe was last inspected, who inspected it, a description of the inspection or test performed and the results of the inspection. The pipe connecting the surge drum to the pressure relief valves was observed to have corrosion, on or about 11/14/16.    h) Engine Room - Ice Maker 2:  The employer did not develop and implement written procedures to document the specific ammonia refrigeration piping inspected, and to identify when a pipe and flange connection on Ice Maker 2 was last inspected, who inspected it, a description of the inspection or test performed, and the results of the inspection. The piping and flange connection leading from the surge drum to the HTRS line was observed to have corrosion, on or about 12/12/16.    i) Ammonia Refrigeration System:  The employer did not develop and implement written procedures to document the specific pressure relief valves inspected, the inspection or test performed at the time of the inspection and the results of the inspections for each piece of equipment; on or about 12/12/16.    j) Ammonia Refrigeration System:  The employer did not develop and implement written procedures to document the specific shut-off valves inspected, the inspection or test performed at the time of the inspection and the results of the inspections for each piece of equipment; on or about 12/12/16.     k) North and South Freezers:   The employer did not develop and implement written procedures to document the specific evaporators inspected, the inspection or test performed at the time of the inspection and the results of the inspections for each piece of equipment; on or about 12/12/16.    l) Ammonia Refrigeration System:  The employer did not develop and implement written procedures to document the specific ventilation fans inspected, the inspection or test performed at the time of the inspection and the results of the inspections for each piece of equipment; on or about 12/12/16.    m) Ammonia Refrigeration System - Engine Room - Compressor RC-5::   The oil cooler tank and a section of piping attached to the oil cooler were observed to have corrosion and the flange securing the oil cooler piping to the head cover had corrosion and metal cracking.  The employer did not develop and implement written procedures to inspect for corrosion and metal cracking on these compressor components and procedures to document the inspection of these compressor components, the inspection or test performed, and the results of the inspection on these components.  The oil cooler tank and a section of piping attached to the oil cooler on Compressor RC-5were observed to have corrosion and the flange securing the oil cooler piping to the head cover had corrosion and metal cracking, on or about on or about 3/16/17.    n)  Anhydrous Ammonia Refrigeration System - Covered Process - High Pressure Thermosyphon Receiver (HP/TS-1) and Pump Recirculator Receiver (PR-1).  These vessels were not subject to a detailed examination of their external surfaces every 12 months in accordance with generally accepted good engineering practices such as but not limited to those contained in Section 6.4.3 of IIAR 110 - 1993  Startup, Maintenance and Inspection of Ammonia Mechanical Refrigerating Systems and the employer's mechanical integrity program; on or about 11/14/16.    o) Engine Room - Ice Maker 2:  Insulated process piping was observed to have corrosion under insulation and was not inspected annually for corrosion under insulation in accordance with generally accepted and good engineering practices such as but not limited to those contained in Section 6.7.2 of IIAR 110 - 1993 Startup, Maintenance and Inspection of Ammonia Mechanical Refrigerating Systems;  or about 11/14/16.    p) Ammonia Refrigeration System - Engine Room:  The Manning ECF2 ammonia alarm detection system was not subjected to a response test between calibrations in accordance with the Manning Instruction and Installation Manual for ECF2 Sensor (January 2014 revision); on or about 11/14/16.    q) Engine Room:  Mycom Compressors RC-5 and RC-6:  The low pressure safety device the oil pressure safety device were not tested annually in accordance with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices such as but not limited to those contained in Section 6.3.3 of IIAR 110-1993 Startup, Maintenance and Inspection of Ammonia Mechanical Refrigerating Systems and the Mycom Instruction Manual for W-Series Reciprocating Compressors (April 2014 revision); on or about 11/14/16.    r) Engine Room:  Frick Compressors RC-1, RC-2 and RC-6:  The low pressure safety device and the oil pressure safety device were not tested annually, in accordance with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices such as but not limited to those contained in Section 6.3.3 of IIAR 110-1993 Startup, Maintenance and Inspection of Ammonia Mechanical Refrigerating Systems; on or about 11/14/16.    s) Anhydrous Ammonia Refrigeration System - Covered Process - Compressors RC-1, RC-2, RC-4, RC-5, RC-6:  The mechanical condition of the drive was not inspected every three (3) months in accordance with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices such as but not limited to those contained in Section 6.3.2 of IIAR 110-1993 Startup, Maintenance and Inspection of Ammonia Mechanical Refrigerating Systems; on or about 11/14/16.    t) Engine Room - Pump Recirculator Vessel (PR-1):  The Hansen Level Control Valves were not tested annually in accordance with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices such as but not limited to those contained in Section 6.6.2 of IIAR 110-1993 Startup, Maintenance and Inspection of Ammonia Mechanical Refrigerating Systems and the employer's mechanical integrity program; on or about 11/14/16.    u) Engine Room - Pump Recirculator Vessel (PR-1):  Hand valves under PR-1 were not tested every 6 months to ensure they worked properly in accordance with recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices such as but not limited to those contained in Section 6.6.1 of IIAR 110-1993 Startup, Maintenance and Inspection of Ammonia Mechanical Refrigerating Systems and the employer's mechanical integrity program; on or about 11/14/16.    FIRST REPEAT STATEMENT:       Arctic Glacier, Inc. was previously cited for a serious violation of this occupational safety and health standard, its equivalent or essentially similar standard, 29 CFR 1910.119(j)(4)(iv), which was contained in OSHA Inspection 314235276, Citation 1, Item 4b, and was affirmed as a final order on December 30, 2011 with respect to a workplace located at 410 Bethel Avenue, Aston, PA  19014.      SECOND REPEAT STATEMENT:      Arctic Glacier U.S.A., Inc. was previously cited for a violation of this occupational safety and health standard or its equivalent standard 29CFR 1910.119(j)(4)(iv), which was contained in OSHA inspection number 623559, citation number 2, item number 1c and was affirmed as a final order on June 28, 2013, with respect to a workplace located at 500 Fenimore Road, Mamaroneck, NY  10543.