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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219-8151.
Conoco, Inc., has agreed to pay $1,571,500 in penalties
proposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) following
an investigation of an explosion and fire at its Westlake, La., refinery in
which one worker was killed and another hospitalized with injuries. The company
has also agreed to perform a corporate-wide process safety management audit.
"Safety on the job should be of utmost concern to all
employers," said Secretary of Labor Robert B. Reich. "We will do everything in
our power to see that Americans are assured of safe and healthy workplaces."
"Conoco has agreed to resolve this matter as quickly as
possible and to implement a corporate-wide program of auditing and correcting
any deficiencies in the process safety management of highly hazardous
chemicals," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and
Health Joseph A. Dear. "The settlement agreement avoids the burden of possible
prolonged litigation and furthers the efforts of both OSHA and Conoco to
provide safe workplaces."
The explosion and fire at the Westlake refinery occurred
Oct. 28, 1994. There was one fatality and one hospitalization due to the
incident. The explosion occurred during startup operations on a catalytic
cracking unit. A large isolation valve leaked, allowing flammable gases that
were being used to pressure test equipment to reach an ignition source.
In addition to its Westlake refinery, Conoco has
refineries in Ponca City, Okla.; Billings, Mont.; and Commerce City, Colo.
Conoco cooperated with OSHA in its investigation and made
available the results of its own investigation. OSHA's investigation included
the circumstances of the explosion and an evaluation of emergency response
efforts. The investigation was conducted by OSHA's Baton Rouge, La., area
office, assisted by staff from the Dallas OSHA regional office.
The Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Local 4-555,
representing workers at the Westlake refinery, also helped and consulted with
OSHA on the settlement agreement.
The audits at the Conoco refineries are to be performed by
interdisciplinary teams selected on the basis of training, knowledge and
ability. The audits will establish a systematic approach to identifying,
evaluating and controlling processes involving highly hazardous chemicals;
establish and implement a management structure to address the findings of the
audit team; recommend corrective actions in an action plan; and confirm and
document completion or other disposition of recommended corrective actions.
The action plan is to include a timetable for correction of
any hazards or potentially hazardous conditions and a priority order for making
corrections. It also is to provide for the interim protection of the workers
until the final corrective action is accomplished.
The alleged violations cited by OSHA against Conoco, Inc.,
at its Westlake, La., refinery are summarized as follows:
- failed to provide employee training and information on management of
change required under process safety management (PSM) standard.
- did not perform required inspections and tests on process equipment
and failed to correct equipment deficiencies.
- violations of OSHA standards governing process safety management of
highly hazardous chemicals, personal protective equipment (including
respiratory protection), entry into confined spaces, and keeping records of
injuries and illnesses.
Ten contractors working at the Westlake refinery also were
cited for various alleged violations as a result of the investigation, with a
total of approximately $175,000 in proposed penalties.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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