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OSHA News Release
2003 - 03/27/2003 - Guymon, Okla., Company Cited for Exposing Workers to Safety Hazards |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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Region 6 News Release: OSHA-03-41 Thurs., March. 27, 2003 Contact: Diana Petterson or Elizabeth Todd Phone: (214)767-4776, Ext. 222 or 221 Guymon, Okla., Company Cited for Exposing Workers to Safety Hazards OSHA Proposes $70,650 in Penalties DALLAS -- A gas processing company failed to properly maintain pressure vessels used to store carbon dioxide and follow safety standards to prevent hazardous conditions, according to citations issued to Reliant Processing Group by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor. Proposed penalties total $70,650. OSHA began its investigation Oct. 8, 2002, at the company's worksite in Guymon, Okla. Reliant Processing, which processes carbon dioxide gas, is headquartered in Odessa, Texas. The company employs about 125 workers, 10 of whom work at the Guymon plant. "Employers must provide a safe and healthful environment to prevent injuries and fatalities," said James Brown, OSHA's area director in Oklahoma City. The company was cited with one alleged willful, four alleged serious and three alleged other-than-serious violations of the OSHA standards. The alleged willful violation was for failing to properly maintain pressure vessels used to store liquid carbon dioxide. A willful violation is defined as an intentional disregard of or plain indifference to the requirements of the OSHA law and regulations. The four alleged serious violations were for failing to train employees on the purpose and function of energy control, failing to implement or maintain a written hazard communication plan, failing to provide training on hazardous chemicals in the work area and failing to provide lockout/tagout procedures for energized equipment. A serious violation is one in which there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known. The three alleged other-than-serious violations were for failing to provide an effective hearing conservation program for employees exposed to noise that exceeds safety levels, failing to provide training to workers utilizing powered industrial trucks and failing to post signs in conspicuous places that prohibit smoking. An other-than-serious violation is a hazardous condition that would probably not cause death or serious physical harm, but would have a direct and immediate relationship to the safety and/or health of the employees. A worker's death at the Reliant Processing Group in Muleshoe, Texas, in September prompted the investigation of the Guymon Reliant plant. The Muleshoe investigation, conducted by OSHA's Lubbock area office, resulted in citations with penalties totaling $70,000. Reliant Processing Group, LLC has 15 working days from receipt of the citations to either comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City area office at (405) 278-9560 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. ### |
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