OSHA Cites Chemical Company in PSM Case
The agency inspected Diversified CPC International's Sparta, N.J., facility as part of its Process Safety Management Covered Chemical Facilities National Emphasis Program.
Process safety management violations are highlighted in a new OSHA enforcement case that involves chemical manufacturer Diversified CPC International Inc. The agency has cited the company for 15 serious violations of the PSM standard at its Sparta, N.J., production facility. The company faces $73,500 in proposed fines for allegedly exposing workers to hazardous chemical risks.
OSHA inspected the facility as part of its Process Safety Management Covered Chemical Facilities National Emphasis Program. The majority of the company's alleged violations stemmed from the use of liquefied petroleum gas, dimethyl ether, and fluorocarbons, according to the OSHA news release. The company allegedly failed to: develop and implement written procedures for mechanical integrity and operating procedures, complete a thorough process hazard analysis and emergency action plan, document that equipment met good engineering practices, conduct inspections and tests on equipment, complete accurate piping and instrument diagrams, include relief system design and design basis in information relating to the equipment, and more.
"Process safety management programs are designed to prevent the catastrophic release of highly hazardous chemicals," said Kris Hoffman, director of OSHA's Parsippany Area Office. "Diversified CPC International Inc. failed to implement required programs to protect workers from hazardous chemicals."