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Huntsman Petrochemical Company Cited for Endangering Employees

Huntsman Petrochemical Company Cited for Endangering Employees
Huntsman Petrochemical LLC has been issued twelve citations by the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The company, headquartered in Houston, has been cited for an inadequate safety management program as well as deficient lockout and tagout procedures for preventing the accidental start up of machines. The above mentioned citations were found at the company's branch in Texas on the Jefferson Chemical road.

The penalties proposed by OSHA total up to $75,600. The area director of OSHA's Houston North Area Office, David Doucet said, “The health and safety of its employees should be a high priority for this company. Failure to implement safe procedures is unacceptable”.

On the 7th of June, OSHA began its investigations following an incident in one of the process units of the company. The agency issues a serious citation when there is a substantial probability of death or some other serious harm that can result from some hazard that the employer should have known about. The company has failed to adequately train its employees in safe operating procedures, correctly shutting down the process equipment, ensuring the lockout and tagout procedures for isolating devices and incorporating procedures for all the safety devices listed in the company's guide.

Fifteen days from the receipt of the violations has been granted to the company. It can either comply, or request an informal conference with the area director of OSHA or challenge the citations before an independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

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