Alleged Safety Violations at Louisiana Refinery Lead to $110K Fine

July 31, 2009

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Calcasieu Refining Co. with alleged serious and other-than-serious violations of federal health and safety regulations following an inspection at the company’s facility in Lake Charles, La. Proposed penalties total $110,600.

OSHA’s Baton Rouge Area Office began an investigation Jan. 27 that found 27 serious and five other-than-serious violations. Serious violations include failing to provide process safety information for pressure vessels, sufficiently develop a written mechanical integrity program, conduct regularly scheduled inspections, designate hazardous classified locations, conduct compliance audits and maintain an audible alarm system.

Other-than-serious violations include failure to provide employees with information on developing mechanical integrity element requirements; obtain and evaluate all contractor’s safety information and programs before performing work in the Number 2 crude unit, and maintain the required records on contractor injuries and/or illnesses. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.

Calcasieu Refining Co., an operating subsidiary of Houston, Texas-based Transworld Oil USA Inc., which specializes in refining gasoline, diesel, naphtha, mineral spirits and jet fuel, employs about 93 workers at the Lake Charles facility.

The company has 15 working days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request an informal conference with the OSHA’s Baton Rouge area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Source: OSHA, www.osha.gov

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