Region 6 News Release: 11-479-DAL
April 8, 2011
Contact: Elizabeth Todd Juan Rodriguez
Phone: 972-850-4710 972-850-4709
E-mail: todd.elizabeth@dol.gov rodriguez.juan@dol.gov

US Department of Labor's OSHA cites 5 companies for exposing
workers to hydrogen sulfide at Eustace, Texas, work site

EUSTACE, Texas – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited five companies for serious safety and health violations following a combustible dust flash fire that released hydrogen sulfide at the Eustace Gas Processing Plant in Eustace and hospitalized five workers. Proposed penalties total $125,300.

"Employees working in a confined space were exposed to hydrogen sulfide, a highly toxic and flammable gas that can affect the nervous system," said Stephen Boyd, OSHA's area director in Dallas. "If management had ensured that proper health and safety measures were followed during vacuuming of explosive dust, it is possible this incident could have been avoided."

OSHA's Dallas Area Office began the investigation Oct. 10, 2010, at the plant on County Road 2854, after workers were injured while vacuuming explosive dust to clean out a natural gas processing unit. Alvin-based Team Industrial Services, a mechanical and piping systems services company, was cited with seven violations. Among these are failing to evaluate permit-required confined space conditions, verify that conditions in a permit space were acceptable for entry, identify acceptable entry conditions, and conduct a process hazard analysis to determine the fire protection and explosion prevention provisions necessary when vacuuming combustible dust. Proposed penalties total $49,000.

Tristream East Texas LLC, the owner and operator of the facility, was cited with seven violations including failing to establish or implement an emergency action plan, maintain ladders in a safe condition and evaluate a prospective rescue service's ability to function appropriately while rescuing workers from a permit space. Proposed penalties total $34,300. Tristream East Texas in Eustace is a subsidiary of Sugar Land-based Tristream Energy LLC.

Two Kilgore-based companies each were cited with three violations. They are Benchmark Industrial Services, doing business as Waterblastco, an industrial services company, and RHI Co., doing business as Canon Safety, a safety and health monitoring company. Both failed to protect employees from being struck by or caught between a crane's rotating superstructure, and to maintain material safety data sheets that are readily accessible to employees. Proposed penalties total $18,900 and $14,700 for Benchmark Industrial Services and RHI, respectively.

Maybank-based Crane Services Implement was cited with two violations for failing to ensure the crane was level and blocked when necessary, and to protect workers from being struck by or caught between a crane's rotating superstructure. Proposed penalties total $8,400.

A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The companies have 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's Dallas area director or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Employers and employees with questions about workplace safety and health standards can call OSHA's Dallas office at 214-320-2400 or the agency's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) to report workplace incidents, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

###

U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The information above is available in large print, Braille, audio tape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.