July 21, 2016

OSHA cites Corpus Christi Steam methane reformer plant for willful, serious
violations for safety failures that exposed workers to health dangers

Employer name: Air Liquide Large Industries US LP

Inspection Site: 5880 Up River Road, Corpus Christi, Texas 78408

Citations issued: July 20, 2016

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated the Jan. 27, 2016, inspection after following a complaint of unsafe working conditions at the company's facility in Corpus Christi. The agency cited Air Liquide Large Industries US LP for one willful and one serious violation. The willful citation was issued for failing to perform air monitoring to assess employee exposure to carbon monoxide gas. The serious citation was issued for failing to protect workers from a potentially hazardous atmosphere created by inadequately maintained valves found leaking within the pressure swing adsorption skid.

Proposed penalties: The fines total $77,000

Citations: http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/Air_Liquide_1119754.pdf

Quote: "Air Liquide is a large, multinational organization with vast holdings but it chooses to ignore simple processes to keep its employees safe," said Travis Clark, OSHA's Area Director in the Corpus Christi office. "Carbon monoxide can be deadly if it is not controlled and monitored closely."

Information: Air Liquide is headquartered in Paris, Air Liquide has more than 50,000 employees in 80 countries. It is the largest supplier of industrial gases by revenues worldwide. The employer 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 amputations, eye loss, 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 Corpus Christi office at 361-888-3420. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

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Media Contact:

Juan J. Rodríguez, 972-850-4709, rodriguez.juan@dol.gov

Release Number: 16-1510-DAL

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