One dead after incident at OSHA STAR site
December 8, 2009 by Fred HosierPosted in: Fatality, In this week's e-newsletter, Injuries, Investigations, Latest News & Views, OSHA news, fire/explosion
Here’s proof that tragic workplace accidents can happen anywhere: An explosion at a refinery that was the recipient of several OSHA STAR awards has claimed the life of a worker.
The blast at Valero’s Texas City, TX, oil refinery resulted in the death of 40-year-old Tommy Mannis. Two other employees received minor injuries, one requiring hospitalization.
Right before the blast occurred, a work crew had been attempting to restart a boiler that had tripped offline. OSHA is investigating.
The Galveston Daily News reports that the refinery is a multiple recipient of OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program’s STAR award. With an OSHA VPP STAR designation, the facility isn’t subject to routine OSHA inspections or those conducted through special emphasis programs. STAR facilities do undergo OSHA review every 3-5 years.
A special emphasis program had recently targeted oil refineries. In June 2009, acting OSHA administrator Jordan Barab sent a letter to refineries across the nation emphasizing the need to comply with process safety management standards, as a result of conditions OSHA inspectors were finding during inspections.
So here’s a question: Do you think OSHA VPP STAR facilities should be exempt from inspections? Let us know what you think in the Comments Box below.
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December 8th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
In as much as the VPP management systems requirements are so basic that they approach common sense, no, VPP star sites should not be relieved of the rigorous OSHA inspection schedules (that’s a joke). In as much as my experience is that the rigor of the VPP assessment is inversely proportional to the value OSHA puts on having that company’s name in the portfolio, again, no.
On the other hand, given the quality of OSHA inspections (ability to identify real hazards vs. trivial issues) and effectiveness of OSHA enforcement, what’s the difference?
December 8th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
The facilities with the STAR rating should absolutely be inspected regularly - if they are truly operating safely there shouldn’t be an issue, right? Part of a good safety culture is maintaining a safe facility for the long term. Once organizations are commended it is easy for them to get comfortable and to begin neglecting responsible safety practices. Additionally, if the VPP STAR rating only covers occupational safety and not process safety, why should it enable companies to avoid all varieties of OSHA investigations?
December 8th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
I am a SHE Consultant from Malaysia. In the state of Sabah in East Malaysia, a few days ago, a boiler exploded killing 2 employees; it has to be noted that there is a requirement of mandatory inspections of all boilers in the country by government inspectors and the need to engage an accredited steam engineer to carry out monthly safety checks;the mainstream media carried this report in the middle pages, devoting 2 half columns and did not mention the name of the organization.. there is lack of checks and balances for safety, health and environment in this part of the world…despite the claims made..loss of life is not valued as a bifg deal
December 9th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Once upon a time, I can remember being an OSHA officer on a VPP investigation and finding an unprotected trench where workers had been working and on another site finding a foreman up in an aerial lift without the required fall arrest/restraint system……and these instances were at sites where they KNEW we were coming. And yes, I am a conservative, etc. and not for more government but from a safety standpoint, I hope Dr. Michael’s, the new OSHA head, only allows truly exceptional companies in the VPP program……or scraps it altogether. OSHA is an enforcement agency. This alliance/partnership signing crap of the last several years where OSHA offices go out to company sites and sign alliance after alliance I think is over. I lost my appetite for partnerships after I investigated a fatality at a Partner’s site.
December 10th, 2009 at 8:32 am
What ever happened to OSHA UNDERGROUND ? You could get the full scoop on everything including this issue.
December 15th, 2009 at 8:35 am
OSHA underground appears to have disappeared. VPP or not people will take short cuts unless there is a true culture of doing things the right way versus schedules and production. If you want to know if safety is a priority ask the workers on the front line what are the companies priorities. Make sure a non-safety person asks the questions though. Remember Charlie?
December 15th, 2009 at 9:55 am
One measure of safety at plants is dollars. One catastrophic incident can cost dearly ($250,00.00 plus). Several minor incidents only a few thousand dollars(less than 20). This may sound harsh and cruel but it is true. One fatality can shut a plant down for good. A plant with a large number of minor injuries is a measurement also. The VPP program is difficult to accomplish, it indicates a commitment by management to provide a safe place for its employees. It is also a prestigeous accompllishment. “Hey, look at us”. Should facilities that have VPP be exempt from inspections. Absolutely not. It is a way to measure the effectiveness of the plant’s program. Regardless of one’s motivation for obtaining the VPP certification, any effort at making the workplace safer is a pro-active effort and should be regarded as such.
December 15th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
The article somewhat misrepresents the VPP process. Star or Merit facilities are inspected by OSHA auditors every 3-5 years. Most of these facilities - whose accident rates are usually lower than the industry standard - would never see an OSHA on-site compliance inspection if they didn’t invite OSHA onto their sites. We have been Star facilities for ten years. OSHA has conducted four day, four-auditors inspection three time durings that period. Like all of the other VPP sites, we don’t just comply with the law. We go beyond it to implement best practices that help ensure our employees’ safety.
December 18th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Whats the difference between a VPP Star site and one that is not? We invited OSHA into our plants to come in and scrutinize us. Why? To make us better and safer! You want us to have more inspections, great. We are not afraid of OSHA because if they find something (and they will) it will only make us better. You want to make funs of us, go ahead. It took us 3 years and hundreds of thousands of dollars to meet this goal. The employees are the ones that are smiling because they get to work in a safe environment. The employer is happy also because they have a clean more productive plant. Take the challenge and invite OSHA in. Be ready to be totally commited from management to shop floor employees. You are on your way to change your safety culture and that is a very very good thing for ALL.
December 22nd, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Partnership agreements with OSHA are nothing but a claim to fame that some feel a sense of accomplishment and prestige for their company. Upper management can use it to wave their banner while selling new work. It makes them feel better than they really are. These agreements are most often persued by new people in the safety business. By that I mean, it is a way to get immediate gratification from their management. Unfortunately it takes a lot of boots in the dirt and hard work to create a viable safety culture. Studying human behavior and differences in cultural behavior would deliver more of a benefit than persuing a certificate of acheivement from OSHA. A partnership agreement shows me that a SD is more interested in him/herself than doing the hard work we all do every day.