Workers at a Springtown, Texas-based natural gas processing facility exposed to safety hazards

Employer name: Enbridge G&P (North Texas) L.P.

Site: Springtown, Texas

Date initiated: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's began investigating the natural gas processing facility in October 2014.

Investigation findings: OSHA cited the employer for eight serious safety violations, including five for Process Safety Management that involves the unexpected releases of toxic, reactive or flammable liquids and gases in processes involving highly hazardous chemicals. The violations include:

• not ensuring that the 2011 PSM audit findings were promptly corrected;
• not performing inspections and tests on controls designated as safeguards;
• not ensuring that written procedures were established and implemented for block/stop valves of pressure relief devices;
• not ensuring that pressure relief valve stacks complied with American Petroleum Institute standards;
• not properly storing and securing unused cylinders to prevent employees from being struck; and
• not guarding an open-sided platform guardrail system to prevent workers from falling to a lower level.

A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

Proposed penalties: $41,250

Quote: "Chemical facilities can be very hazardous, and deficiencies like the ones found during this inspection should have been promptly corrected when identified," said Jack Rector, OSHA's area director in Fort Worth. "Employers must provide a safe and healthful working environment for their workers."

Information: The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Fort Worth Area Office at 817-581-7303.