The South Carolina Office of Occupational Safety and Health came down hard on Tanner Industries for the July 15 anhydrous ammonia release at its Swansea, S.C., terminal. The release, which amounted to more than 10,000 pounds, killed a woman driving to work (GM July 20, 2009, Aug. 3, 2009), sent others to the hospital, and blackened bushes and grass in a wide area. The state OSHA declared that the release was caused by a ruptured hose and assessed a fine of more than $23,000 for seven serious violations, and also handed the carrier, Werner Transportation Services Inc. of Omaha, Neb., a fine of more than $5,000 for four violations. Tanner responded that it is continuing to cooperate with authorities.
The state OSHA reported that “Through onsite observations, employee interviews and comments it was determined that approximately 10,600 pounds of anhydrous ammonia were leaked from the storage tank at the facility during a transfer. The leak was a result of a hose rupture. Three Tanner employees and two carrier truck drivers were exposed to anhydrous ammonia.” Tanner was cited for failure to provide an alarm system to notify employees to evacuate, failure of a transfer hose to conform with AAI-RMA specifications for anhydrous, failure to have a shutoff or backflow valve installed to prevent a release in the event of a rupture, failure to have a process analysis for transfer, failure to require self-contained breathing apparatus for the two employees responding to the release, and failure to train the responders at hazardous technical material level. Two additional items involved documentation.
Werner was cited for four violations, including a non-conforming transfer hose, not developing a written respiratory program, and not providing a medical evaluation or respiratory protection training for the responders.
“All employers are required to provide employees with a safe and healthy work site,” declared State OSHA spokesman Jim Knight. “Therefore, our inspection focused on the safety of employees working for Tanner Industries and Werner Transportation at the time of the anhydrous ammonia release. As a result, safety violations related to anhydrous ammonia and employee safety were cited at both employers. Both companies were given 20 days to decide whether they will correct the violations and pay the penalties or file a formal protest with the South Carolina Administrative Law Court and seek a hearing in the matter.”
Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board said it continues to investigate the incident to determine why the hose burst.