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On November 20, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released an update on its investigation into an October 10 fatal release of hydrogen sulfide gas at the PEMEX Deer Park Refinery in Texas that killed two workers and injured 13 others. During maintenance activities at the refinery, approximately 27,000 pounds of toxic […]
Chemical manufacturer AB Specialty Silicones LLC has agreed to pay $1.3 million in penalties in connection with a May 2019 explosion and fire at its Waukegan, Illinois, plant that claimed the lives of four workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced October 2. Following OSHA’s investigation, it proposed penalties totaling $1,591,176 for four […]
On July 17, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released an update on its investigation into a January 2023 explosion and toxic chemical release at the Honeywell Performance Materials and Technologies facility in Geismar, Louisiana. A reboiler at the facility exploded, leading to the release of over 870 pounds (lb) of hydrogen […]
A steam explosion at a Bedford, Ohio, foundry caused a maintenance supervisor’s death and injuries to 15 other employees, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) concluded, citing I. Schumann & Co. LLC for failing to protect workers from the hazard of steam explosions. The agency cited the company for six serious violations, proposing penalties […]
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) cited Sierra Pacific Industries for workplace safety and health violations after one of its employees was fatally injured when a pipeline on an air compressor exploded. The agency is seeking $108,300 in fines.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is seeking nearly $1.6 million in penalties from an Illinois manufacturer. The agency cited AB Specialty Silicones, LLC, for 12 willful federal safety violations after 4 employees suffered fatal injuries in an explosion and fire at the company’s Waukegan, Illinois, plant on May 3, 2019.
The Process Safety Management (PSM) standard applies to equipment like boilers that don’t involve highly hazardous chemicals if the equipment is interconnected with or located near equipment that does, the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission recently decided.
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) cited a marijuana producer for a workplace explosion in which an employee suffered burns. As the marijuana industry takes hold in states allowing recreational marijuana use, state agencies are taking steps to ensure compliance with worker safety and health standards.