Shell to pay $135 900 for US safety violations at Geismar

19 August 2002 18:49  [Source: ICIS news]

WASHINGTON (CNI)--Shell Chemical will pay $135 900 (Euro138 673) in penalties for failing to implement standards that protect workers against hazardous chemicals in one of its process units at Geismar, Louisiana, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Osha) said Monday.

"In addition to agreeing to the penalties, Shell has worked closely and cooperatively with Osha to work at improving its overall safety and health procedures," said John Deifer, director of Osha's Baton Rouge, Louisiana office.

The Osha office investigated a 12 February fatality at the Geismar facility where a catalyst technician, working with hazardous chemicals, was killed as a result of an explosion.

Shell Chemical was cited with 14 safety and health violations for failing to implement elements of the Process Safety Management Standards for Highly Hazardous Chemicals, as well as failure to implement lock out/tag out procedures to shut down energy sources and failure to comply with confined space requirements.

The process safety management standard must be followed by facilities that use certain thresholds of hazardous chemicals. It requires the training of workers and an analysis of potential hazards and how to correct them.

By: Glenn Hess
+1 713 525 2653

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