OSHA cited ExxonMobil Refining and Supply for 22 alleged workplace safety violations at its Baton Rouge, La., refinery, with proposed fines totaling $126,600.
The 22 serious and two other-than-serious violations at the facility, which produces base oils and waxes, among other products, stem from a March 14 inspection by OSHAs Baton Rouge Area Office.
OSHA said serious violations included failing to properly investigate incidents, repair equipment, address inconsistent thickness measurements collected during pressure vessel inspections, maintain accurate and updated engineering drawings, and ensure that written operating procedures were certified as being current and accurate.
The other-than-serious violations involved failing to ensure that a plate protecting electrical components remained affixed to its housing, and deficiencies identified in the emergency action plan.
We will be reviewing the OSHA citations and will meet with OSHA to discuss how ExxonMobils systems meet the performance standards of the [process safety management] regulations, company spokeswoman Rachael L. Moore told Lube Report.
Through this review process, we hope that OSHA will reconsider its findings and withdraw a number of the citations. Findings from OSHA [National Emphasis Program] inspections at four ExxonMobil facilities in the past two years have resulted in fewer violations of lower severity than the refinery industry average. ExxonMobil is committed to ensuring that our facility operates safely at all times, and nothing is more important than the safety and health of our employees, our contractors and the people who live and work around our operations.
ExxonMobil Refining and Supply is a division of Exxon Mobil. The Baton Rouge refinery employs about 2,100 workers and specializes in production of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, aviation fuel, lubricating oils and waxes.
The refinery has a base oil plant with 14,500 barrels per day of API Group I and 1,500 b/d of Group II capacity.