OSHA cites Citgo Refining and Chemicals for exposing workers to hazardous materials in Corpus Christi, Texas

2012 - 09/06/2012 - US Department of Labor's OSHA cites Citgo Refining and Chemicals for exposing workers to hazardous materials in Corpus Christi, Texas: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Citgo Refining and Chemicals Co. LP has been cited for five safety violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA opened an inspection at the company's Corpus Christi facility upon receiving a complaint that employees had been exposed to a leak of hydrofluoric acid at a flange in the alkylation unit while performing maintenance work. Proposed penalties total $66,500.

"This employer did not have proper safeguards in place to protect employees from the release of toxic chemicals," said Michael Rivera, OSHA's area director in Corpus Christi. "By not following OSHA's standard for process safety management, employees at the facility and the surrounding community were placed in danger."

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