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OSHA News Release
2003 - 03/27/2003 - Worker's Death at Muleshoe, Texas, Worksite Brings OSHA Penalties of $70,000 |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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Region 6 News Release: OSHA-03-42 Thurs., March. 27, 2003 Contact: Diana Petterson or Elizabeth Todd Phone: (214)767-4776, Ext. 222 or 221 Worker's Death at Muleshoe, Texas, Worksite Brings OSHA Penalties of $70,000 DALLAS -- An explosion at a Reliant Processing Group worksite in Muleshoe, Texas, in September that resulted in the death of a worker has led to citations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor and proposed penalties totaling $70,000. Reliant Processing, headquartered in Odessa, Texas, processes carbon dioxide gas for bottling and beverage companies. OSHA began its investigation of Reliant following an accident in which an employee was killed when the tank he was insulating exploded. The tank was filled with carbon dioxide. No other workers were injured. The company employs about 300 workers, 10 of whom worked in Muleshoe. The company was cited for one alleged willful violation for exposing employees to a struck-by hazard associated with the sudden and catastrophic failure of carbon dioxide storage tanks. The explosion was related to a build-up of excessive pressure and brittle fracturing of two tanks due to extremely low temperatures. A willful violation is defined as an intentional disregard of or plain indifference to the requirements of the OSHA law and regulations. "Adhering to recognized and generally accepted engineering control practices as set out in OSHA's safety procedures may have prevented this accident," said Edward Cosgrove, area director of OSHA's Lubbock area office. "The company's failure to provide a safe and healthful working environment contributed to the worker's death." The accident in Muleshoe prompted an investigation at the Reliant plant in Guymon, Okla. whose operations are similar. The investigation conducted by OSHA's Oklahoma City area office resulted in citations at the Guymon plant with penalties totaling $70,650. Reliant Processing Group, LLC has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to either comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's Lubbock office, or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Employers or workers who have questions concerning safety and health may call OSHA's Lubbock area office at (806) 472-7685 or OSHA's toll free hotline number at 1-800-321-6742 . The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is dedicated to saving lives, preventing injuries and illnesses, and protecting America's workers. Safety and health add value to business, the workplace and life. For more information, visit www.osha.gov. ### U.S. Labor Department news releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. |
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