Citations don't always change how companies operate

"Machinery manufacturer fined more than $480,000 after endangering workers lives

OSHA issued 33 citations to the Parker Hannifin Corp. and fined the company $487,700 for numerous safety and health violations found during an inspection of its plant in Batesville, Miss. Parker Hannifin has 170 facilities throughout the country and manufactures machinery for hydraulics, air conditioning, refrigeration and aerospace systems.

OSHA issued 16 citations for repeat violations such as failing to protect workers by correcting electrical deficiencies, providing machine guarding, and attaching warning labels to hazardous chemicals. Parker Hannifin was previously cited for the same or similar violations during inspections at other company locations. OSHA also issued the company 17 citations for exposing workers to a substantial probability of death or serious physical harm from hazards including struck-by hazards due to a defective safety latch on a hoist and damaged hooks on an overhead crane and allowing unapproved electrical equipment to be used in a hazardous location where flammable chemicals were present."

This text was taken from the OSHA Quicktakes Newsletter (osha.gov). It caught my eye because obviously this company believes it is cheaper to pay the citations instead of investing this money in the necessary safety and health systems. Some of the violations are repeat violations which shows that this company already has performed poorly in the past. The citations and penalties that were issued then were apparently not sufficient to trigger a process of change.

Has OSHA lost its bite (again)? If monetary penalties are not enough, because half a million dollars is only peanuts to a company like Parker-Hannifin, what can be done to come down harder on those employers who neglect their duty and continue to operate as if they were still in the stone ages? Wasn't there talk about holding top management liable by taking them to a courtroom? I haven't heard too much about that lately. Or is this again a touchy political issue because Congress and Senate (or Democrats and Republicans) are more interested in having petty internal wars and don't focus on what keeps this country going - the people, the workers, the carpenters, the laborers, the technicians, the nurses, and and and.... Or is it because politicians have an active interest in companies and maybe get a little perk here and there, especially during election times?

Video Clip from Worksafe BC (Asbestos)

Flammable Material Release

http://www.aiche.org/CCPS/Publications/Beacon/index.aspx

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Flammable material release inside building causes explosion!

In June 2009 there was a major explosion at a meat processing plant in Garner, North Carolina, USA. A new natural gas line had been installed to supply fuel to a water

heater. The new pipe was being purged with natural gas to remove air. The natural gas from the purge was released into a building intermittently over a 2 ½ hour period. An

explosive mixture formed and ignited. The explosion destroyed the building, killed 4 workers, injured 67 people, and caused a release of 18,000 pounds of ammonia.

Most people would recognize natural gas as a fuel which could cause an explosion. But remember that the release of any flammable gas or volatile flammable liquid from piping

or equipment has the potential to cause a similar incident. Many manufacturing processes use flammable gases or liquids, and most factories, offices, and laboratories use

natural gas, propane, or other flammable fuels. In preparation for maintenance, start-up, or other work, it may be necessary to purge the flammable process material or fuel from the

pipes or equipment. This incident reminds us of the importance of purging that flammable material to a safe place where it can be safely contained, treated, or dispersed. Never

allow flammable materials to accumulate in a building, room, or any other confined space.

Do you know?

Any closed space such as abuildin g or room can allow a released flammable material to accumulate to an explosive concentration.

What can you do?  
 

Understand the fire and explosion hazards of the materials in your plant. Don’t forget about natural gas, propane, and other fuels!

When purging equipment and piping (for example, when preparing equipment for maintenance), make sure flammable materials are vented to a safe location, away from personnel and

ignition sources. Follow your plant procedures for safely purging flammable materials.

Whenever possible, purge flammable vapors and gases to collection systems which go to flares, scrubbers, or other treatment systems. Avoid purging indoors, and conduct a thorough hazard

analysis to identify job specific precautions to protect personnel if this is unavoidable.

Use flammable gas detectors to monitor areas where flammable materials may be vented or purged.

It doesn’t take much released flammable vapor in a room to cause a big explosion!

Link provided by Augie Rincon, ConocoPhilips

A small amount of flammable gas or vapor can create an explosive vapor cloud in a building or room. For example, it only takes about 11 pounds (5 kg) of propane to create a

flammable mixture in a room 20 ft. long, 20 ft. wide, and 11 ft. high (6 m. x 6 m. x 3.5 m). The 11 pounds (5kg) of propane packs as much energy as 110 pounds (50 kg) of TNT!