OSHA Inspection: BLUE RACER MIDSTREAM, LLC.

Issued

Nov 13, 2019

Abate by

Dec 18, 2019

Penalty

Initial $7,246 · Current $7,246

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(f)(4): The employer shall develop and implement safe work practices to provide for the control of hazards during operations such as lockout/tagout; confined space entry; opening process equipment or piping; and control over entrance into a facility by maintenance, contractor, laboratory, or other support personnel. These safe work practices shall apply to employees and contractor employees.  a. On or about May 21, 2019, the employer did not implement safe work practices for employees performing lockout/tagout and confined space entry when removing filters by hand from vessel UF-0413, thereby exposing the employees to flash fire/explosion hazards.

Issued

Nov 13, 2019

Abate by

Dec 18, 2019

Penalty

Initial $7,246 · Current $7,246

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.132(d)(1)(i): Select, and have each affected employee use, the types of PPE that will protect the affected employee from the hazards identified in the hazard assessment;   a. On or about May 21, 2019, located at Vessel F-0413, the employer did not select and have each affected employee use types of gloves that would protect employees, thereby exposing the employees to burn hazards.    On May 21, 2019, an employee was removing filters by hand that were located within Vessel F-0413. There was a flash fire/explosion that occurred within the vessel. The employee was not wearing any hand protection and received 2nd degree burns to the hands.

Issued

Nov 13, 2019

Abate by

Dec 18, 2019

Penalty

Initial $11,934 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4): If the employer decides that its employees will enter permit spaces, the employer shall develop and implement a written permit space program that complies with this section. The written program shall be available for inspection by employees and their authorized representatives.  a. On or about May 21, 2019, located at the Berne Plant at Vessel UF-0413, the employer did not implement their permit-required confined space program for employees that reached into the vessel to remove filters by hand, thereby exposing the employees to the hazards associated with permit-required confined space work, i.e. burns, asphyxiation, etc.

Issued

Nov 13, 2019

Abate by

Dec 18, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3): Develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operation, including, but not limited to, the following:  29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3)(iv): Purging, inerting, flushing, or ventilating the permit space as necessary to eliminate or control atmospheric hazards;  a. On or about May 21, 2019, located at the Berne Plant at Vessel UF-0413, the employer did not adequately implement the means, procedures, and practices to safely perform permit-required confined space work by purging, inerting, flushing or ventilating the vessel from hydrocarbon gases and vapors, thereby exposing the employees to the hazards associated with permit-required confined space work, i.e. burns, asphyxiation, etc.

Issued

Nov 13, 2019

Abate by

Dec 18, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3): Develop and implement the means, procedures, and practices necessary for safe permit space entry operation, including, but not limited to, the following:  29 CFR 1910.146(d)(3)(vi): Verifying that conditions in the permit space are acceptable for entry throughout the duration of an authorized entry.  a. On or about May 21, 2019, located at the Berne Plant at Vessel UF-0413, the employer did not adequately implement the means, procedures, and practices to safely perform permit required confined space work by verifying that conditions in the permit space were acceptable for entry for the duration of an authorized entry, thereby exposing the employees to the hazards associated with permit-required confined space work, i.e. burns, asphyxiation, etc.    On May 21, 2019, an employee was removing filters by hand that were located within Vessel UF-0413. There was a flash fire/explosion that occurred within the vessel resulting in employee burn injuries.

Issued

Nov 13, 2019

Abate by

Dec 18, 2019

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5): Evaluate permit space conditions as follows when entry operations are conducted:  29 CFR 1910.146(d)(5)(ii): Test or monitor the permit space as necessary to determine if acceptable entry conditions are being maintained during the course of entry operations; and   a. On or about May 21, 2019, located at the Berne Plant at Vessel UF-0413, the employer did not adequately implement the means, procedures, and practices to safely perform permit required confined space work by testing and monitoring that conditions in the permit space were being maintained during entry operations, thereby exposing the employees to the hazards associated with permit-required confined space work, i.e. burns, asphyxiation, etc.    On May 21, 2019, an employee was removing filters by hand that were located within Vessel UF-0413. There was a flash fire/explosion that occurred within the vessel resulting in employee burn injuries.

Issued

Nov 13, 2019

Abate by

Dec 18, 2019

Penalty

Initial $7,246 · Current $13,653

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(e)(1): Before entry is authorized, the employer shall document the completion of measures required by paragraph (d)(3) of this section by preparing an entry permit.  NOTE: Appendix D to section 1910.146 presents examples of permits whose elements are considered to comply with the requirements of this section.  a. On or about May 21, 2019, located at the Berne Plant at Vessel UF-0413, the employer did not prepare entry permits for employees performing permit-required confined space work of removing filters, thereby exposing the employees to asphyxiation and thermal burn injuries.

Issued

Nov 13, 2019

Abate by

Dec 18, 2019

Penalty

Initial $7,246 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.146(g)(1): The employer shall provide training so that all employees whose work is regulated by this section acquire the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of the duties assigned under this section.  a. On or about May 21, 2019, located at the Berne Plant at Vessel UF-0413, the employer did not adequately train employees to have the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for employees performing permit-required confined space work of removing filters, thereby exposing the employees to asphyxiation and thermal burn injuries.