Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 19, 1990 TAG: 9004190790
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A/4 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Phillips was cited for 575 willful and serious safety violations at its Houston Chemical Complex.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, in announcing the second-largest proposed penalty against a company for a single inspection, also proposed a $730,000 fine against a contractor, Fish Engineering, for 182 alleged willful and serious violations.
Phillips and Fish have 15 days to contest the fines.
The violations included alleged failures to prevent the uncontrolled release of flammable vapors and provide adequate fire protection. Employees were not familiar with the plant alarm system or respiratory protection, OSHA said.
Last October's explosion occurred in Pasadena, a Houston suburb. The complex was operated by Phillips 66 Co., the chemical production and marketing arm of Phillips Petroleum Corp.
A series of explosions destroyed the portion of the complex that produced polyethylene, which is used in making plastics.
Phillips officials have said the explosion occurred after a seal on a polyethylene reactor ruptured, leaking highly flammable theylene and isobutane gas from a pipeline. It was unclear what ignited the gas.
Workers have reported that only a few seconds elapsed between the time they spotted the flammable cloud of gas, heard the warning sirens and were rocked by the explosions.
Phillips officials met with OSHA administrators March 29 for a conference on the agency's findings.
The largest fine ever sought by OSHA was proposed last November, when the government said it was seeking a $7.3 million fine from USX Corp. for 2,000 alleged safety violations at two steel plants, one near Pittsburgh, Pa., and the other on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River near Trenton, N.J. USX has contested its fine.
by CNB