BRIEF: OSHA fines Husky $7,000 for July chemical release

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/949160/

Tuesday, January 01, 2008; Posted: 12:44 PM

LIMA, Jan 01, 2008 (The Lima News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- HUSKF | charts | news | PowerRating -- A July chemical release will cost Husky Energy $7,000.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined the Lima, refinery for two violations that occurred July 22. The incidents involved the shutdown of the plant's butane treatment unit. According to the OSHA citation, the company did not develop and implement clear instructions for the safe shutdown of the unit, resulting in the release of butane. Plant officials also failed to ensure that a management of change procedure was implemented, according to the citation.

OSHA spokeswoman Julie Hovi said the amount of butane released was unknown. The spill wasn't serious enough to endanger the plant's neighbors.

"I can't say it never will, but in this particular case it did not. The emergency procedures the facility had in place worked very well," Hovi said.

Husky representatives were unavailable for comment.

The refinery had a fire in a substation July 19, just weeks after Husky Energy completed the $1.9 million purchase of the Lima Refinery from Valero Energy corporation. The refinery later had a shutdown that lasted a week to make repairs after the fire.

The plant has 400 employees and 160 contractors.

[panader0]

1. A slap on the wrist.

It must be a first fine. OSHA fines grow big very fast with each succeeding violation. As a masonry foreman, I have had to take OSHA classes. My bosses wanted to make sure they were never fined.