Seattle Marine Terminal Operator Fined $448,200

Seattle Bulk Shipping Inc. is currently appealing violations for which it was fined $424,850 and is considered a severe violator by L&I, meaning it is subject to follow-up inspections to determine whether the conditions still exist.

  • Jul 29, 2016

The Washington state Department of Labor & Industries has imposed one of its largest fines in recent years, $448,200, against a marine terminal operator in Seattle after the company failed to correct serious worker health hazards for which it had been cited previously, L&I announced it July 28.

The agency's inspection at Seattle Bulk Shipping Inc.'s Harbor Island facility found the company did not correct serious violations for which it was cited last year. At the facility, highly flammable ethanol fuel is transferred from rail cars to tanker trucks and grain is loaded onto rail cars and transferred between trucks. The uncorrected violation was a confined space serious violation -- failing to develop an adequate confined space entry program to protect employees who work around or inside grain pits or other confined spaces. Failing to correct the violation carries a penalty of $324,000.

And the company was cited for a second violation that hadn't been corrected: failing to provide an approved emergency eyewash station for workers who transfer ethanol from rail cars and tanker trucks. Failure to correct this violation carries a penalty of $108,000.

And Seattle Bulk Shipping also was cited for three additional serious violations related to emergency procedures for potential ethanol release and confined space rescue, each with a $5,400 penalty.

The company is currently appealing violations for which it was fined $424,850 and is considered a severe violator by L&I, meaning it is subject to follow-up inspections to determine whether the conditions still exist. Seattle Bulk Shipping has 15 business days to appeal the new violations. Penalty money paid in connection with a citation is placed in the workers' compensation supplemental pension fund, which helps workers and families of those who have died on the job.

Product Showcase

  • The MGC Simple Plus

    The MGC Simple Plus is a simple-to-use, portable multi gas detector that runs continuously for three years without being recharged or routinely calibrated after its initial charge and calibration during manufacturing. The detector reliably tests a worksite’s atmosphere for hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, oxygen and combustible gases (LEL). Its durability enables the detector to withstand the harshest treatment and environments, hence earning it an IP 68 rating. The MGC Simple Plus is also compatible with a variety of accessories, such as the GCT External Pump. Visit gascliptech.com for more information. Read More

  • Full Line of Defense Against Combustible Dust Nilfisk

    Nilfisk provides a comprehensive range of industrial vacuums meticulously crafted to adhere to NFPA 652 housekeeping standards, essential for gathering combustible dust in Class I, Group D, and Class II, Groups E, F & G environments or non-classified settings. Our pneumatic vacuums are meticulously engineered to fulfill safety criteria for deployment in hazardous surroundings. Leveraging advanced filtration technology, Nilfisk ensures the secure capture of combustible materials scattered throughout your facility, ranging from fuels, solvents, and metal dust to flour, sugar, and pharmaceutical powders. Read More

  • SwabTek® Cannabis Test Kit

    The SwabTek® Cannabis Test Kit is a single-use spot test designed for use in screening for cannabis compounds in any sample type or on any surface. The test is capable of identifying the presumed presence of cannabinoids in very small quantities, with a level of detection as little as 6 μg in mass. Learn more about the SwabTek® Cannabis Test Kit and the rest of SwabTek surface drug testing solutions through the webinar titled "Everything You Want To Know About Surface Testing" Read More

Featured

Most   Popular

Artificial Intelligence