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OSHA News Release
2003 - 12/23/2003 - OSHA Cites Three Companies, Proposes Over $56,000 in Penalties Following Douglasville, Ga., Refinery Explosion |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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Region 4 News Release Release Number: 03-931-ATL (300) Tues., Dec. 23, 2003 Contact: Harold Gill Jo Anne Burgoyne Phone: (770) 984-8700 (404) 562-2076 OSHA Cites Three Companies, Proposes Over $56,000 in Penalties
Following Douglasville, Ga., Refinery Explosion ATLANTA -- The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited three employers for allegedly failing to protect workers from safety hazards at a Douglasville, Ga., refinery. The agency is proposing penalties totaling $56,250 for unsafe conditions that resulted in one worker being severely burned. The accident occurred June 25 at the Young Refinery located on Huey Road. According to OSHA's investigation, Young Refinery Corporation had hired two contractors, Process Piping Services and Metro Welding, to perform welding and cutting operations. A Process Piping Services employee was welding the top of a petroleum tank when sparks from the operation ignited fumes emanating from a nearby storage tank. The worker was severely burned by the ensuing fire and explosion. "Employers have a serious responsibility to follow safety standards and protect their workers," said Andre Richards, OSHA's Atlanta-West area office director. "Had Young Refinery and Process Piping Services taken proper safety precautions, this worker might have avoided serious injury." OSHA issued 26 serious citations to Young Refinery Corp. with proposed penalties totaling $46,250. Included in the citations were alleged failures to: develop and implement a written process safety management plan; prepare an emergency action plan; conduct a pre-start safety review and hazard evaluation, and provide proper safety equipment and training to its employees and the contractors' employees. The company also did not have a "hot work" permit, which documents that the welding and cutting are being done in compliance with fire prevention and protection regulations. Process Piping Services received four serious citations with proposed penalties of $5,750 for allegedly failing to: conduct an inspection before beginning work; establish a fire watch during the operation; provide employees working on top of tanks with fall protection; and have a written hazard communication program for chemicals and materials used by employees. Metro Welding received four serious citations, similar to those issued to Process Piping Services, with proposed penalties of $4,250, for safety hazards observed during the OSHA investigation. The companies have 15 working days to contest the OSHA citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Staff from the Atlanta-West OSHA area office located at 2400 Herodian Way, Suite 250, Smyrna, conducted the inspection; phone: (770) 984-8700. For more information visit www.osha.gov or contact the nearest OSHA office, listed in the government section of the phone book. 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. ### |
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