OSHA Inspection: MARKWEST UTICA EMG, LLC

Issued

Jul 28, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,667 · Current $2,934 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0320

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1028(e)(1): Exposure monitoring - General.     29 CFR 1910.1028(e)(1)(iii): Determinations of compliance with the short-term exposure limit (STEL) shall be made from 15 minute employee breathing zone samples measured at operations where there is reason to believe exposures are high, such as where tanks are opened, filled, unloaded or gauged; where containers or process equipment are opened and where benzene is used for cleaning or as a solvent in an uncontrolled situation. The employer may use objective data, such as measurements from brief period measuring devices, to determine where STEL monitoring is needed.    On or about February 7, 2017, the employer had not performed STEL exposure monitoring for laboratory operations in the condensate laboratory to determine accurately the airborne concentration of benzene for lab technicians and the lab manager.

Issued

Jul 28, 2017

Abate by

Oct 2, 2017

Penalty

Initial $3,667 · Current $2,934 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0320

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1028(j)(3): Communication of hazards. Information and training.    29 CFR 1910.1028(j)(3)(iii): In addition to the information required under 29 CFR 1910.1200, the employer shall:    29 CFR 1910.1028(j)(3)(iii)(A): Provide employees with an explanation of the contents of this section, including Appendices A and B, and indicate to them where the standard is available; and    On or about February 7, 2017, the employer had not provided the information required for employees assigned to a work area where benzene was present. Employees, such as but not limited to laboratory technicians and the laboratory manager, were assigned to the condensate laboratory work area and had not received information regarding the contents of this section (the OSHA benzene standard to include Appendix A and B) and an indication of the OSHA benzene standard availability for the employees.

Issued

Jul 28, 2017

Abate by

Oct 2, 2017

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

Hazardous substances 0320

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1028(j): Communication of hazards -     29 CFR 1910.1028(j)(2): Warning signs and labels.    29 CFR 1910.1028(j)(2)(iii): The employer shall ensure that labels or other appropriate forms of warning are provided for containers of benzene within the workplace. There is no requirement to label pipes. The labels shall comply with the requirements of paragraph (j)(1) of this section and � 1910.1200(f).    On or about February 7, 2017, the employer did not ensure that labels (or other forms of warning) were provided for condensate sample bottles that are filled with condensate by plant operators, transported to the condensate laboratory and handled by laboratory employees, such as lab technicians. No form of label was placed onto these bottles that contain the condensate component benzene.