May 20, 2015

Suburban Propane Partners in Fort Worth, Texas, exposes workers to electrical
and other hazards
OSHA fines company $114K for 13 violations

Employer name: Suburban Propane Partners LP

Site: Fort Worth, Texas

Date initiated: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration began investigating the propane gas facility in November 2014.

Investigation findings: Following a complaint about unsafe conditions, OSHA investigated the facility and cited the employer for one willful, 10 serious and two other safety violations. The willful violation was cited for using temporary electrical cords as permanent electrical wiring. The 10 serious violations include several issues with the care and maintenance of the propane tanks and multiple electrical wiring violations. The company was also cited for failing to mark emergency exits and for having rodents in the workplace.

Proposed penalties: $114,000

The citations can be viewed at: http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/CitationsSuburbanPropane1010281.pdf

Quote: "Electrical fires and propane are a bad combination that can have fatal results," said Jack Rector, OSHA's area director in Fort Worth. "Suburban Propane needs to make safety a priority. Workers should not have to risk their lives or their health."

Information: Suburban Propane Partners LP is one of the nation's leading marketers of propane gas, fuel oil, and related products and services. The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Fort Worth Area Office at 817-581-7303.

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Media Contacts:

Diana Petterson, 972-850-4710, petterson.diana@dol.gov

Juan Rodriguez, 972-850-4703, rodriguez.juan@dol.gov

Release Number: 15-912-DAL

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