SUPERIOR, Wis. - A Superior refinery is facing more than $83,000 in fines related to an April 26 explosion that injured dozens of people and caused an evacuation.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Superior Refining Company for eight serious safety violations related to the explosion and fire. OSHA says the refinery "failed to control the use and release of highly hazardous chemicals."
Superior Refining Company is owned by Husky Energy, which showed first-quarter net earnings in 2018 of $248 million. That means the OSHA fines of $83,150 equal just .03 percent of Husky's first-quarter earnings.
A U.S. Chemical Safety Board report on the explosion found that the suspected cause was a valve with internal wear that "failed to separate oxygen and hydrocarbons, allowing a flammable mixture to form."
Now OSHA's report states that among other violations, the refinery failed to ensure some equipment was maintained, inspected, tested and operating in a safe manner.
In its list of violations, OSHA also says the refinery's testing for some equipment did not follow best practices, it did not have clear instructions for an emergency shutdown, and did not correct deficiencies in the equipment when necessary to ensure safe operation.
"Ensuring the mechanical integrity of critical equipment used during the refinery shutdown operation could have prevented this incident," said OSHA Eau Claire Area Office Director Mark Hysell.
The company has 15 days to pay the $83,150 in fines, contest them, or request an informal meeting with OSHA's area director. Husky provided KARE with the following statement on Wednesday:
"We look forward to meeting with OSHA to discuss their recommendations and investigation findings.
It is our policy to continuously improve our process safety programs. Superior Refining remains committed to this facility, our employees and the community."
