OSHA Inspection: MATHESON TRI-GAS, INC.

Issued

Apr 13, 2021

Abate by

May 28, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(d): The employer did not complete a compilation of written process safety information pertaining to the equipment in the process that consisted of at least the information specified in sections (d)(1)(i) through (d)(3)(i)(H):  On or about 10/22/2020, at the Matheson Tri-Gas facility located in Houston Texas, the employer did not complete a compilation of written process safety information, including but not limited to manufacturer's data reports for propane and propylene pressure vessels, accurate piping and instrument diagrams (P&ID's), relief system design and design basis, and operational limits for process equipment that contained highly hazardous chemicals.

Issued

Apr 13, 2021

Abate by

May 28, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.119(e)(1): The employer did not perform an initial process hazard analysis (hazard evaluation) on processes covered by this standard.  The process hazard analysis shall be appropriate to the complexity of the process and shall identify, evaluate, and control the hazards involved in the process.  Employers shall determine and document the priority order for conducing process hazard analyses based on a rationale which includes such considerations as extent of the process hazards, number of potentially affected employees, age of the process, and operating history of the process:  On or about 10/22/2020, at the Matheson Tri-Gas facility located in Houston Texas, the employer did not conduct a process hazard analysis for the evaluation and control the hazards involved in the processes for the flammable area.

Issued

Apr 13, 2021

Abate by

May 28, 2021

Penalty

Initial $5,851 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(f)(3): The operating procedures were not reviewed as often as necessary to assure that they reflect current operating practice, including changes that result from changes in process chemicals, technology, and equipment, and changes to facilities. The employer did not annually certify that operating procedures were current and accurate:   On or about 10/22/2020, at the Matheson Tri-Gas facility located in Houston Texas, the employer did not annually certify operating procedures and did not ensure that operating procedures are current and accurate, including but not limited to:  a.	OPS-FL-438-I-00 Revision #01-Hydrogen Industrial and UHP Filling (Effective date 23 Sept. 2016). The procedure was not annually certified in 2019 & 2020 and was not accurate, in that it included operation of the  hydrogen compressor, which was inoperable.  b.	OPS-FL-216-I-00 Revision #02- Filling Procedures-Liquid, Compressed Gasses (Non-Cryogentic) (Effective date 29 January 2016).  The procedure was not annually certified in 2019 & 2020.

Issued

Apr 13, 2021

Abate by

May 28, 2021

Penalty

Initial $5,851 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(h)(2)(i): The employer, when selecting a contractor, did not obtain and evaluate information regarding the contract employer's safety performance and programs.    On or about 10/22/2020, at the Matheson Tri-Gas facility located in Houston Texas, the employer did not evaluate information regarding the safety performance and programs of the following contract employers:      a)     Gas Innovations b)     Pinnacle Propane, LLC

Issued

Apr 13, 2021

Abate by

May 28, 2021

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(h)(2)(v): The employer did not periodically evaluate the performance of contract employers in fulfilling their obligations as specified in paragraph (h)(3) of this section.    On or about 10/22/2020, at the Matheson Tri-Gas facility located in Houston Texas, the employer did not periodically evaluate health and safety inspections and audits of contract employers for the following contract employers:      a)     Gas Innovations b)     Pinnacle Propane, LLC

Issued

Apr 13, 2021

Abate by

May 28, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(j)(2): The employer did not establish and implement written procedures to maintain the on-going integrity of process equipment:  On or about 10/22/2020, at the Matheson Tri-Gas facility located in Houston Texas, the employer failed to ensure that written procedures for testing or inspecting of process equipment were established and implemented, including but not limited to:  a.	Propane tank (PID-01) b.	Propylene tank (PID-03) c.	Piping associated with propane and propylene tanks (PID-01-PID-04) d.	Pressure relief valve (PRV) on the stack of the of the propane tank (PID-01) e.	PRV on the liquid propane line before the check valve (PID-01) f.	PRV on the stack/vent-line of the propylene tank (PID-03) g.	PRV on the liquid propylene line before the propylene pump (PID-03)

Issued

Apr 13, 2021

Abate by

May 28, 2021

Penalty

Initial $13,653 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(j)(4)(i): The employer did not perform inspections and tests on process equipment:    On or about 10/22/2020, at the Matheson Tri-Gas facility located in Houston Texas, the employer did not perform inspections and testing on process equipment including but not limited to:  a.	Propane tank (PID-01) b.	Propylene tank (PID-03) c.	Piping associated with propane and propylene tanks (PID-01-PID-04) d.	Pressure relief valve (PRV) on the stack of the of the propane tank (PID-01) e.	PRV on the liquid propane line before the check valve (PID-01) f.	PRV on the top of the propylene tank (PID-03) g.	PRV on the liquid propylene line before the propylene pump (PID-03)

Issued

Apr 13, 2021

Abate by

May 28, 2021

Penalty

Initial $5,851 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119 (l)(1) : The employer did not establish and implement written procedures to manage changes (except for "replacements in kind")  to process chemicals, technology, equipment, and procedures; and, changes to facilities that affect a covered process.  On or about 10/22/2020, at the Matheson Tri-Gas facility located in Houston Texas, the employer did not establish and implement written procedures to manage changes for removing the hydrogen compressor from the hydrogen filling process.

Issued

Apr 13, 2021

Abate by

May 28, 2021

Penalty

Initial $9,753 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.119(o)(1): Employers did not certify that they have evaluated compliance with the provisions of this section at least every three years to verify that the procedures and practices developed under the standard are adequate and are being followed.  On or about 10/22/2020, at the Matheson Tri-Gas facility located in Houston Texas, the employer did not conduct Process Safety Management (PSM) compliance audits for the flammable area.