A new hazard alert from OSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health identifies health and safety risks to oil and gas industry workers who manually gauge or sample fluids on production and flowback tanks. It was triggered by a series of preventable deaths related to manual gauging of tanks.
The recommendations fall into three main categories: engineering controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment.
“It has been known for years that oil and gas extraction is extremely dangerous work, with high rates of workplace fatalities. We also know that every incident is preventable,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. “It’s critically important that we all work together to make sure that oil and gas extraction workers are aware of life-threatening exposure to hydrocarbon gases and vapors and low oxygen atmospheres, and that they are protected.”
“The expansion of the oil and gas extraction industry has led to new opportunities, but also new risks for workers,” said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D. “This joint alert highlights the importance of remaining vigilant about the safety and health of our nation’s workers as our nation changes and adapts to these new opportunities.”
The alert highlights research from both OSHA and NIOSH which has shown that workers at oil and gas extraction sites may be exposed to very high concentrations of hydrocarbon gases and vapors when manually gauging or sampling production tanks. Workers also face the risk of fires or explosions from high concentrations of hydrocarbon gas and vapors. These activities can also result in oxygen-deficient environments, which can cause loss of consciousness and death.
OSHA Seeks Comment on Guidance For Determining Potential Health Hazards of Chemicals
As part of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s efforts to protect workers from the hazards of chemicals, the agency plans to issue new guidance on how to apply the Weight of Evidence approach when dealing with complex scientific studies. On February 16, OSHA will begin accepting comments on its Guidance on Data Evaluation for Weight of Evidence Determination, which is intended to help employers consider all available information when classifying hazardous chemicals.
“It is vitally important that workers and employers be given complete and accurate information about the hazards associated with exposure to the chemicals with which they work. Without that, how can they ensure they are protected,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. “This guidance will help educate chemical manufacturers and importers about OSHA’s expectations on how to prepare accurate safety data sheets and labels required to protect worker safety and health.”
Under the Hazard Communication Standard, chemical manufacturers and importers must review all available scientific evidence concerning the physical and health hazards of the chemicals they produce or import to determine if they are hazardous.
This guidance document is not a standard or regulation and it does not create any new legal obligations and is intended to assist employers in providing a safe and healthful workplace. The recommendations are advisory in nature, informational in content, and intended to educate scientists and non-scientists alike who prepare labels and SDSs so that they provide accurate and consistent information.
Schwan’s Global Supply Chain Inc., Fined $172,000 After Worker Suffers Amputation
The company is a subsidiary of The Schwan Food Company, a multibillion-dollar private company that sells popular frozen food brands in North America, including Red Baron, Tony’s and Freschetta frozen pizza, and Mrs. Smith’s desserts.
“Three women’s lives were dramatically altered because their employer failed to protect them from hazardous operating machinery parts,” said Judy Freeman, OSHA area director in Wichita. “Each year, thousands of workers like these suffer amputation and other injuries that are preventable when basic safety guards are in place and proper procedures are followed. Schwan’s needs to protect their workers, and they need to do it now.”
The inspections that resulted in the citations found:
- Surgeons had to amputate her right hand. She was unable to work for 55 days.
- September 30, 2015: A 49-year-old employee reached into the area of the conveyor to clear a jam of pizza pans. She sustained a laceration, fractures, and burns to the palm of left hand. The machine should have been prevented from operating while unjamming the pizza pans. She was unable to work for 46 days following the injury.
- October 23, 2015: A 55-year-old employee was walking under a conveyor in the “new bakery” area, when she reached up to get her balance. As she attempted to stand, her hand inadvertently contacted an unguarded chain and sprocket on the underneath side of a conveyor. As a result, the employee’s middle finger on her left hand was de-gloved and amputated.
During its inspections, the agency also found other safety hazards.
The Schwan Food Company has over 13,000 employees with 1,300 of them at the Salina processing facility. Based in Minnesota, the company sells frozen foods through grocery stores, supermarkets, and the food-service industry.
New Exclusions for Solvent Recycling and Hazardous Secondary Materials
EPA’s new final rule on the definition of solid waste creates new opportunities for waste recycling outside the scope of the full hazardous waste regulations. This rule, which went into effect on July 13, 2015, streamlines the regulatory burden for wastes that are legitimately recycled.
The first of the two exclusions is an exclusion from the definition of solid waste for high-value solvents transferred from one manufacturer to another for the purpose of extending the useful life of the original solvent by keeping the materials in commerce to reproduce a commercial grade of the original solvent product.
The second, and more wide reaching of the two exclusions, is a revision of the existing hazardous secondary material recycling exclusion. This exclusion allows you to recycle, or send off-site for recycling, virtually any hazardous secondary material. Provided you meet the terms of the exclusion, the material will no longer be hazardous waste.
Learn how to take advantage of these exclusions at Environmental Resource Center’s live webcast where you will learn:
- Which of your materials qualify under the new exclusions
- What qualifies as a hazardous secondary material
- Which solvents can be remanufactured, and which cannot
- What is a tolling agreement
- What is legitimate recycling
- Generator storage requirements
- What documentation you must maintain
- Requirements for off-site shipments
- Training and emergency planning requirements
- If it is acceptable for the recycler to be outside the US
Nashville RCRA and DOT Training
San Jose RCRA and DOT Training
Houston RCRA and DOT Training
How to Implement OSHA’s Globally Harmonized Hazard Communication Standard (GHS)
OSHA has issued a final rule revising its Hazard Communication Standard, aligning it with the United Nations’ globally harmonized system (GHS) for the classification and labeling of hazardous chemicals. This means that virtually every product label, safety data sheet (formerly called “material safety data sheet” or MSDS), and written hazard communication plan must be revised to meet the new standard. Worker training must be updated so that workers can recognize and understand the symbols and pictograms on the new labels as well as the new hazard statements and precautions on safety data sheets.
Elan Chemical Co. Fined $72,100 for Exposing Employees to Dangerous Chemicals
OSHA initiated an inspection on August 4, 2015, under its national emphasis program focused on chemical manufacturers. Inspectors found deficiencies in the employer’s equipment process safety information, process hazard analysis, written operating procedures, contractor safety, equipment inspection and testing along with management of process changes, resulting in the citations.
Proposed penalties total $72,100.
“The violations identified in this inspection create a hazardous environment for the plant’s workers,” said Kris Hoffman, director of OSHA’s Parsippany Area Office. The company’s failure to comply with OSHA’s Process Safety Management standard could result in a chemical release, as well as a serious fire or explosion.”
Warren Railcar Services Inc. Fined $59,200 for Exposing Employees to More than Two Dozen Safety and Health Hazards
OSHA inspectors cited the company for numerous hazards, including:
- Lack of necessary safety training
- Poor housekeeping that exposed employees to various hazards from tripping and falling to ingestion of toxic metals
Proposed penalties total $59,200.
“Railcar repair work is dangerous; however, all of the hazards identified during this inspection leave Warren Railcar Services employees vulnerable to an increased risk of serious injury and possible death,” said Theresa Naim, director of the OSHA’s Erie Area Office. “Employers have a duty to create a safe and healthy workplace for their workers. Failure to do so is unacceptable.”
Yannuzzi Group Inc. Willfully Exposes Workers to Dangers of Possible Trench Cave-in
OSHA’s investigation began October 30, 2015, after a complaint alleged an imminent danger situation of workers in an 8-foot deep trench with no protective system.
OSHA investigators learned that earlier in the day, prior to the agency’s inspection, a Randolph Township Division of Sewer and Water employee delivered trench protection to the Yannuzzi Group after observing the company employees working in the trench without safety protection. However, the company chose not to use it. OSHA inspectors confirmed Yannuzzi failed to use an adequate protective system to prevent its workers from being injured if the trench caved-in, resulting in the willful citation.
The serious citation involved excavated materials placed too close to the edge of the excavation.
OSHA reports that two workers die in trench collapses each month. A cubic yard of soil can weigh as much as 3,000 lb, the equivalent of a small automobile.
Proposed penalties total $58,800.
“Randolph Township provided trench protection at the job site, yet Yannuzzi Group deliberately decided not to use it. The company’s action is intolerable. Yannuzzi needlessly jeopardized worker safety by choosing not to implement basic measures to prevent cave-ins,” said Kris Hoffman, director of OSHA’s Parsippany Area Office. “The fatality rate for excavation work is 112 percent higher than the rate for general construction. Trench protection systems are more than a required OSHA safety standard; they are a matter of life and death.”
Case Farms Cited for Failing to Report Employee Illness
Infection with the bacteria can lead to gastrointestinal infection. The inspection was opened following a referral from another government agency.
The agency cited the company for failing to:
- Complete an OSHA 301 form for each recordable injury or illness
- Record an injury or illness within seven calendar days of occurrence
- Provide requested records within four business hours
“Case Farms has a long track record of failing to comply with federal workplace safety standards and needs to follow-through on its commitment to make improvements to equipment, procedures and training to protect its workers on the job,” said Deborah Zubaty, OSHA’s area director in Columbus. “OSHA will remain vigilant until the company keeps its workers safe by making needed improvements to equipment, procedures and training.”
The leading supplier of fast food and supermarket chicken racked up nearly $1.9 million in proposed fines from OSHA in 2015 following inspections at facilities in Winesburg and Canton. Case Farms has contested all citations issued.
Proposed penalties total $23,100.
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