Oregon refinery fined $3M

Citing conditions similar to those that existed at a BP PLC refinery in Texas before a deadly 2005 explosion, the federal workplace safety agency cited a suburban Toledo refinery for multiple serious violations and issued a $3 million fine.

U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials said Monday that they have cited the BP-Husky Refining LLC and BP North America Inc. for 42 violations of federal safety laws at the refinery in Oregon which BP and Husky Energy jointly operate. The violations were classified as "willful."

"OSHA has found that BP often ignored or severely delayed fixing known hazards in its refineries," said Hilda Solis, U.S. Secretary of Labor, in a written statement. She oversees OSHA.

"There is no excuse for taking chances with people's lives. BP must fix the hazards now," she said.

Refinery spokesman Mary Caprella said company officials would not comment until reviewing the citations. She added, however, "We take our responsibility for safety seriously at the Toledo refinery."

In a memo to Ms. Solis last month, OSHA administrators said the agency decided to issue the citations after inspectors discovered numerous problems, including some that were similar to those existing at a refinery in Texas City, Texas when 15 people were killed in a 2005 explosion.

A copy of the memo was provided to The Blade by U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) The issues included problems with a pressure relief system, which the memo described as "the last line of defense when a process starts to go out of control."