OSHA Hits Texas Chemical Manufacturer With $500K Fine After Fire, Explosions
June 3, 2020
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration cites Texas Petroleum Corporation for workplace safety hazards.
Texas Petroleum Corporation (TPC) will pay for a fire and explosions at its Port Neches, Texas facility last year. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited the company for exposing workers to safety hazards, according to an article from Insurance Journal, and fined the company more than $500,000.
In November 2019, several explosions and fires at the plant prompted the widespread evacuation of Port Neches and the surrounding area during the week of Thanksgiving. According to the article, the fires were caused by vapor igniting at the base of a butadiene finishing tower. OSHA reportedly cited TPC for three “willful violations for failing to develop and implement procedures for emergency shutdown, and inspect and test process vessel and piping components.” The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reportedly considered TPC a high priority violator for several years.
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