Ohio refinery fined $321K for OSHA violations

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Marathon Petroleum Co. LLC have agreed on a settlement after the agency's safety inspection revealed multiple violations of federal workplace safety standards at the company's Canton refinery.

Marathon has agreed to pay $321,500 in fines and already has taken corrective action to eliminate unsafe working conditions.

OSHA found during the inspection that the company needed to ensure: process piping is protected from external corrosion; piping, pressure relief devices and pump motors comply with good engineering practices; proper evaluations address hazards of increased throughput; operating procedures reflect activities for cooling process equipment; and operating procedures address emergency operating conditions.

Marathon also agreed to address equipment deficiencies related to pressure relief devices, toxic and flammable gas/vapor detectors, and building pressurization equipment; hazards associated with facility siting in the process hazard analysis; and human factors in the process of hazard analysis.

"Injuries and fatalities from incidents at refineries are preventable," said Rob Medlock, OSHA's area director in Cleveland. "We are pleased that Marathon is taking quick corrective action to ensure a safe working environment. The company has committed to long-term improvements in its safety and health management systems, which we hope will place the company among the best in the industry."

Marathon Petroleum Co. LLC, a fuels plant and petroleum products and asphalt producer, employs 320 people at the Canton facility and 27,700 people company-wide. OSHA has inspected the Canton facility 11 times and issued 46 citations for occupational safety and health violations since 1974. The most recent inspection was initiated in June 2007 as part of OSHA's National Emphasis Program for petroleum refineries, which mandates that the agency inspect every refinery nationwide.