OSHA Inspection: SEAFREEZE LTD.

Issued

Dec 15, 2021

Abate by

Jun 3, 2022

Penalty

Initial $9,557 · Current $4,779 Reduced

Hazardous substances 0170

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act: 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 chemical and fire hazards from the release of anhydrous ammonia refrigeration system from improperly maintained piping and vessels:  On or about 7/8/21 employees were exposed to the potential for unexpected releases of ammonia at the following locations:  (a) Outside of the ammonia mechanical room the ammonia system's compressed pressure receiver exhibited peeling paint and algae growth on the bottom of the tank, the king valve neck was missing paint and exhibited surface corrosion, and portions of the piping associated with the compressed pressure receiver also exhibited surface corrosion.    (b) Outside the ammonia mechanical room the ammonia system's surge drums and associated piping insulation covers were damaged and exhibited algae growth in several locations. Additionally some of ammonia piping's insulation had been damaged and some of the insulated pipe exhibited ice buildup.    (c) On the roof above the ammonia mechanical room the ammonia system's high pressure receiver and associated piping exhibited significant corrosion.    (d) On the upper roof (roof above freezer # 1 and to the west of the ammonia mechanical room) damaged pipe insulation and corroded piping was observed. Additionally it was noted that outer coverings on the pipe insulation had been cut to accommodate pipe supports, but not sealed to prevent water intrusion into the insulation.    (e) In the AMR an overhead valve and associated piping was observed with missing paint, excessive moisture accumulation and surface corrosion.

Issued

Dec 15, 2021

Abate by

Jan 18, 2022

Penalty

Initial $9,557 · Current $4,779 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.28(b)(11)(ii): The employer did not ensure that each flight of stairs having at least 3 treads and at least 4 risers was equipped with stair rail systems and handrails as described in 29 CFR 1910.28 Table D-2-Stairway Handrail Requirement:  (a) Bay Dock, East Side of facility: On or about 7-8-21 the employer did not ensure that the flight of stairs having 6 treads and 7 risers was equipped with stair rail systems on the dock side where employees handle product.

Issued

Dec 15, 2021

Abate by

Jan 18, 2022

Penalty

Initial $9,557 · Current $4,779 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(13)(i): The employer did not ensure that when work is performed less than 6 feet (1.6 m) from the roof edge, each employee is protected from falling by a guardrail system, safety net system, travel restraint system, or personal fall arrest system:  (a) Roof Tops above the Mechanical Room and Freezers:    On or about 7-8-21 the employer did not ensure that employees performing daily work of ammonia system checks and regular maintenance when  transitioning from the stairs and ladders to the various roofs throughout the day when less than 6 feet (1.6 m) from the roof edge were protected from falls of greater than 10 feet by a guardrail system, safety net system, travel restraint system, or personal fall arrest system.

Issued

Dec 15, 2021

Abate by

Jan 18, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(13)(ii): The employer did not ensure that when work is performed at least 6 feet (1.6 m) but less than 15 feet (4.6 m) from the roof edge, each employee is protected from falling by using a guardrail system, safety net system, travel restraint system, or personal fall arrest system:  (a) Roof Tops above the Mechanical Room and Freezers:    On or about 7-8-21 the employer did not ensure that employees performing daily work of ammonia system checks and regular maintenance when  checking piping and equipment throughout the day when greater than 6 feet but less than 15 feet from the roof edge were protected from falls of greater than 10 feet by a guardrail system, safety net system, travel restraint system, or personal fall arrest system.

Issued

Dec 15, 2021

Abate by

Jan 18, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.28(b)(13)(iii)(A): When work is performed 15 feet (4.6 m) or more from the roof edge, the employer did not protect each employee from falling by a guardrail system, safety net system, travel restraint system, or personal fall arrest system or a designated area:  (a) Roof Tops above the Freezers:   On or about 7-8-21 the employer did not ensure that employees performing daily work of ammonia system checks and regular maintenance when checking  equipment such as, but not limited to, the  evaporator penthouses and associated surge drums and piping throughout the day when 15 feet or more from the roof edge were protected from falls of greater than 10 feet by a guardrail system, safety net system, travel restraint system, or personal fall arrest system.

Issued

Dec 15, 2021

Abate by

Apr 1, 2022

Penalty

Initial $6,827 · Current $3,414 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.145(c)(2): A caution sign was not used to warn against potential hazards or to caution against unsafe practices:  (a) Outside Ammonia Mechanical Room: On or about 7-8-21 the anhydrous ammonia piping associated with the Compressed Pressure Receiver unit did not have caution signage designed to identify the refrigerant contained within that piping segment (i.e., ammonia) including the physical state of the refrigerant, relative pressure level of the ammonia and direction of flow.  (b) Outside Ammonia Mechanical Room: On or about 7-8-21 the King Valve component of the anhydrous ammonia piping associated with the Compressed Pressure Receiver unit did not have caution signage identifying the King Valve , the direction of flow and physical state of the ammonia.  (c) Outside Ammonia Mechanical Room: On or about 7-8-21 a caution sign was not  posted outside the ammonia mechanical room identifying the location of the ammonia system's emergency remote control box and the emergency pressure control box ,  (d) Ammonia Mechanical Room: On or about 7-8-21 the King Valve component of the anhydrous ammonia piping did not have caution signage identifying the King Valve and showing the direction of flow and physical state of the ammonia.

Issued

Dec 15, 2021

Abate by

Jan 18, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.145(c)(3): Safety instruction sign(s) were not used where there was a need for general instructions and suggestions relative to safety measure(s):   (a) Ammonia Mechanical Room: On or about 7-8-21, a safety instruction sign was not used to identify basic ammonia system safety  information to include the following:      - Name and address of the installer       - The refrigerant number and the amount of refrigerant in the system       - The field test pressure(s) applied

Issued

Dec 15, 2021

Abate by

Jan 18, 2022

Penalty

Initial $9,557 · Current $4,779 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.151(c): Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use:  (a) Forklift Maintenance and Battery Charging Room: On or about 7-8-21  employees exposed to injurious corrosive materials, including sulfuric acid,  while servicing and maintaining forklift batteries were not provided suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body within the work area for immediate emergency use in that the available eye wash facility was blocked by  various equipment and was in disrepair and had been disconnected from it's water supply.  (b) Outside of the Ammonia Mechanical Room: On or about 7-8-21 employees exposed to injurious corrosive materials, including anhydrous ammonia, while maintaining the ammonia system were not provided with suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body within the work area outside of the ammonia mechanical room for immediate emergency use in that the available eye wash facility on the rail dock was blocked by construction materials from access.

Issued

Dec 15, 2021

Abate by

Apr 1, 2022

Penalty

Initial $6,827 · Current $3,414 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(e)(1)(i):  The employer did not compile a list of the hazardous chemicals known to be present using a product identifier that is referenced on the appropriate safety data sheet (the list may be compiled for the workplace as a whole or for individual work areas):  (a) Facility Wide: On the employer's hazard communication program did not include a list of the hazardous chemicals known to be present in the facility, such as, but limited to , compressed oxygen and acetylene readily available for employees either in one place or in their individual work areas.

Issued

Dec 15, 2021

Abate by

Apr 1, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(e)(2)(i): At a multi-employer workplace, the employer's hazard communication program did not include methods the employer used to provide other employers with on-site access to a safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical the other employer(s)' employees may be exposed to while working:   (a) Facility wide: On or about 6-30-21 the employer's hazard communication program did not include methods the employer used to provide other employer's employees performing work on-site  with information on access to safety data sheets for each hazardous chemical such as, but not limited to, anhydrous ammonia and compressed gases.

Issued

Dec 15, 2021

Abate by

Apr 1, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(f)(6)(ii):  Except as provided in 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(7) and 29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(8), the employer did not ensure that each container of hazardous chemicals in the workplace was labeled, tagged or marked with the product identifier and words, pictures, symbols, or combination thereof, which provide at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals and which, in conjunction with the other information immediately available to employees under the hazard communication program, would provide employees with the specific information regarding the physical and health hazards of the hazardous chemical:   (a) Outside the Ammonia Mechanical Room : On or about 7-8-21, the employer did not ensure that the anhydrous ammonia compressed pressure receiver included a hazard identifier and/or pictogram for the physical and health hazards of anhydrous ammonia.

Issued

Dec 15, 2021

Abate by

Jan 18, 2022

Penalty

Initial $5,461 · Current $2,731 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(10):  The employer did not ensure that workplace labels or other forms of warnings were legible, in English and prominently displayed on the container or readily available in the work area throughout each work shift:  (a)	Facility wide: On or about 6-30-21 employer did not ensure that workplace labels or other forms of warnings were legible on several containers of compressed gases in that the identity of the gas could not be determined.

Issued

Dec 15, 2021

Abate by

Jun 3, 2022

Penalty

Initial $6,827 · Current $3,414 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.1200(h)(1): Employees were not provided effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into the workplace:  (a)	Facility wide: On or about 6-30-21 the employer did not provide their fishermen, who perform work shore side of the establishment, with effective information and training on hazardous chemicals such as, but not limited to,  compressed gases and fuels at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard was introduced into the workplace.  (b) Facility wide: On or about 6-30-21 the employer did not provide  shore side employees effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area including compressed gases and fuels at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new hazard that the employees had not been previously trained about was introduced into the workplace.

Issued

Dec 15, 2021

Abate by

Apr 1, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

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:   (a) Facility wide:  On or about 6-30-21 the employer's emergency action plan was not in writing.

Issued

Dec 15, 2021

Abate by

Apr 1, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.132(d)(1): The employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment :  (a) Facility wide:  On or about 6-30-21 the employer did not assess the workplace to determine if hazards are present, or are likely to be present, which necessitate the use of personal protective equipment such as safety goggles, face shields and chemical resistant gloves.  Abatement Note:   Once the PPE Hazard Assessment is completed you shall:   Certify that the hazard assessment has been performed through a written certification in accordance with 1910.132(d)(2), which includes:  1) Identification of the workplace evaluated, 2) The person certifying the evaluation,  3) The date the evaluation was conducted.  Guidance on conducting and documenting a PPE Hazard Assessment can be found on OSHA's website at:    https://www.osha.gov/personal-protective-equipment

Issued

Dec 15, 2021

Abate by

Jan 18, 2022

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.146(c)(2): The employer did not inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence and location of and the danger posed by the permit spaces:  a) Ammonia System Condensers on the Roof of the Machine Room:  On or about 7/8/21  the employer did not inform exposed employees, by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means such as, but not limited to,  posting a sign "NO ENTRANCE, PERMIT REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE" to prevent its employees from entering the condensers.