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OSHA News Release
2008 - 02/12/2008 - U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA fines CITGO Petroleum Corp. in Lake Charles, La., $169,000 for safety and health violations |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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Region 6 News Release: 08-154-DAL Feb. 12, 2008 Contact: Diana Petterson or Elizabeth Todd Phone: 214-767-4776, ext. 222 or 221 U.S. Department of Labor's OSHA fines CITGO Petroleum Corp. in Lake Charles, La., $169,000 for safety and health violations
LAKE CHARLES, La. -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited CITGO Petroleum Corp.-LCMC in Lake Charles, with proposed penalties totaling $169,000, for allegedly failing to protect employees from hazardous working conditions. OSHA has alleged three willful and 12 serious violations following an investigation that began Aug. 13, 2007. CITGO Petroleum, which specializes in refining gasoline and lubricants, has approximately 1,430 employees at its Lake Charles location and about 4,000 employees companywide. The company also operates refineries in Illinois and Texas. Dean McDaniel, OSHA's regional administrator in Dallas, said: "CITGO Petroleum failed to follow OSHA's process safety management standards. In this case, it is fortunate that no injuries occurred." The willful violations include failure to operate the blowdown drum within volume limits so as to prevent over-filling and failure to implement blowdown emergency operating procedures. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Serious violations include failure to: provide process safety information for pressure vessels, identify safeguards related to the control of liquid hydrocarbon release through the blowdown system, complete a process hazard analysis for the crude vacuum unit #1 prior to startup and conduct contractor audits. Serious violations are issued when there is a substantial probability that death or serious injury could occur from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known. The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director in Baton Rouge, La., or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Employers and employees with questions about workplace safety and health can contact OSHA's Baton Rouge Area Office at 225-298-5458. A toll-free hotline at 800-321-6742 may be used to report workplace accidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to employees. OSHA operates a vigorous enforcement program, conducting more than 39,000 inspections in fiscal year 2007 and exceeding its inspection goals in each of the last eight years. In fiscal year 2007, OSHA found nearly 89,000 violations of its standards and regulations. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov. # # #
U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audiotape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance. |
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