The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Thursday that it has cited BP Products North America Inc. after investigators determined the oil company failed to properly train its staff after two employees suffered fatal burns.
The Houston-based company, a subsidiary of BP in the UK, was charged with 10 serious violations and one non-serious violation in connection with the September 2022 deaths of two workers at a refinery in Oregon, Ohio.
Workers were trying to correct rising liquid levels in a fuel gas mixing drum when a flammable vapor cloud ignited and caused an explosion.
OSHA said deficiencies in the company’s training and other safety failures led to the deaths.
Inspectors also found that naphtha, a flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixture, was released when flow control valves were opened during the incident, allowing the flammable liquid to enter the refinery̵
7;s fuel gas system.The company is accused of failing to implement proper equipment shutdown procedures at the request of the operators who responded to the incident.
OSHA said BP failed to comply with federal safety standards that require it to develop company process safety and response procedures that address “worst-case scenarios.”
BP faces $156,250 in proposed penalties. It has 15 days to contest the referrals.
Source link
