OSHA Inspection: BRIDGE TERMINAL, INC.

Issued

2019-01-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-12-31 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $9054.00 · Current $4527.00 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0170

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 a potential catastrophic release of ammonia gas or liquid.    Location: Establishment    1. On or about July 17th, 2018, and at times prior, the employer failed to properly  identify and label pressure relief valves and piping throughout the facility.    2. On or about July 17th, 2018, and at times prior, the employer failed to post Emergency Response procedures at a place where employees would see them.    3. On or about July 17th, 2018, and at times prior, the employer failed to ensure that the evaporators and pipes in the cooler and the pipe on the bottom of the high pressure receiver were provided protection from physical damage.    4. On or about July 17th, 2018, and at times prior, the employer failed to ensure that the structural support for the low pressure receiver was non-combustible and capable of supporting the equipment.  There was corrosion on the structural steel, and there were spacers made of combustible wood.    5. On or about July 17th, 2018, and at times prior, the employer failed to ensure that there was at least one emergency eyewash/shower inside and one outside the mechanical room.    6. On or about July 17th, 2018, and at times prior, the employer failed to ensure that the exit doors in the engine room were self-closing and tight-fitting, with panic hardware.    7. On or about July17th, 2018, and at times prior, the employer did not design and maintain a ventilation system for the machine room that would provide safe background and emergency ventilation:      a. There was no intake fan to ensure that the intake rate would never be less than 0.5 cfm/ft2 of room area, or 20 cfm per occupant, whichever is greater.      b. There was no intake fan to ensure that the negative pressure in the room would never exceed -0.25 inches water column relative to adjacent areas      c. The make-up and exhaust air positions created short-circuiting, and the ventilation would not capture the air in the room with the  Intercooler      d. For temperature ventilation, the employer did not perform an actual cooling load calculation, addressing heat load occurring in the room due to the  machinery and make-up air      e. The temperature control ventilation did not have both a thermostat with a fixed setting and a manual control switch       f. The employer did not implement a schedule for testing the mechanical ventilation system, including the activation based on ammonia detection, temperature detection, and manual activation.    8. On or about July 17th, 2018, and at times prior, the employer failed to ensure that the exhaust vent on the roof for the high pressure receiver was vertical.    9. On or about July 17th, 2018, and at times prior, the main pipe to the condenser from the low pressure receiver was not   secured.    10. On or about July 17th, 2018, and at times prior, the employer failed to ensure that the insulation on the low pressure receiver was repaired.    11. On or about July 17th, 2018, and at times prior,  the employer failed to defrost the low pressure vessel pumps on a regular basis,  allowing moisture to get under the insulation and cause corrosion.    12. On or about July 17th, 2018, and at times prior, the employer failed to replace pressure relief valves every 5 years: the expiration date for the pressure relief valve on compressor 1 was in 2016.

Issued

2019-01-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-04-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4398.00 · Current $2199.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.38(b): An emergency action plan was not in writing, kept in the workplace, and available to employees for review:    The employer had not developed an emergency action plan with mandated content on the proper procedures to follow when responding to an emergency, including:    1) Procedures for reporting a fire or emergency  2) Procedures for emergency evacuation  3) Procedures to be followed by employees remaining to operate critical plant operations  4) Procedures to be followed by employees performing rescue   5) The name or job title of every employee who may be contacted by employees who need more information about the plan or an explanation of their duties under the plan

Issued

2019-01-03 00:00:00

Abate by

2019-04-30 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $5497.00 · Current $2748.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.38(d): The employer did not maintain employee alarm systems.    Ammonia sensors were not tested monthly, nor were they calibrated every 6 months, as per manufacturer's instructions  At least one ammonia sensor in the machine room was disabled for several weeks, and no local alarm or notification to the fire department was activated when the ammonia concentrations in the room exceeded 25 ppm.