Tetra Chemicals - West Memphis Facility - Executive Summary

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1.0    West Memphis Facility Risk Management Plan: Executive Summary 
 
   ACCIDENTAL RELEASE PREVENTION AND RESPONSE POLICIES 
 
The West Memphis Facility (Facility) is committed to worker and public safety. This commitment is demonstrated by the resources invested in accident prevention, such as training personnel and considering safety in the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of the facility's processes.  Tetra's policy is to implement reasonable controls to prevent foreseeable releases of substances. However, if a release does occur, trained personnel will respond to, control, and contain the release. 
    
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE STATIONARY SOURCE AND REGULATED SUBSTANCES 
 
The Tetra Chemicals Facility is located in an agricultural area that borders West Memphis, Arkansas.  The Facility produces zinc/calcium bromide blends in water solutions that are used as high-density workover and completion fluids in the oil and gas industry. 
 
The Facility was evaluated to determine if any regu 
lated flammable or toxic substances exceeded the threshold quantity.  Based on process knowledge, Facility personnel identified no listed flammable substances and two toxic regulated substances kept on site. The chemicals are Bromine and Formaldehyde.  The largest quantity on site and threshold quantity for Bromine is 260,000 lbs and 10,000 lbs, respectively.  The largest quantity on site and threshold quantity for Formaldehyde is 25,300 lbs and 15,000 lbs, respectively.  
 
Worst-Case Scenarios 
 
The listed substances, which are stored above threshold quantities at the West Memphis facility, are bromine and formaldehyde.  Based on worst-case analysis using urban conditions, the distance to the endpoint exceeds the distance to public receptors.  In addition, the Facility is subject to OSHA PSM.  Therefore, the West Memphis facility meets the criteria of a Program 3 process under the Accidental Release Prevention (ARP) program. 
 
    Flammable Substances 
 
The West Memphis facility does not ha 
ve any flammable substances above the threshold quantity; therefore, analysis of worst-case release scenarios for flammable substances is not required. 
 
Toxic Substances 
 
The endpoint for a worst-case release of a toxic substance is based on the Emergency Response Planning Guideline level 2 (ERPG-2) developed for each substance by the American Industrial Hygiene Association.  The toxic endpoint for bromine is 0.0065 mg/L and 0.012 mg/L for formaldehyde.  The ARP Program requirement for toxics, in a worst-case scenario, assumes the total quantity is released in ten minutes.   
 
A release of 130,500 lbs of bromine with a 16.56-miles distance-to-endpoint and a release of 506 lbs of formaldehyde with a 0.03-miles distance-to-endpoint are the worst-case toxic releases. 
 
Alternative Release Scenarios 
 
Alternative release scenarios are those that are more likely to occur than the worst-case release scenario.  Alternative release scenarios for toxic substances should be those that lead to conce 
ntrations above the endpoints beyond the facility's fenceline.  Alternative release scenarios for flammable substances should have the potential to cause substantial damage, including onsite damage. 
 
The following conditions may be considered for alternative release scenarios: 
 
7 Release rate dependent upon the scenario; 
7 Consideration of active and passive mitigation systems. 
    
Flammable Substances 
 
The West Memphis facility does not have any flammable substances above the threshold quantity; therefore, analysis of alternative release scenarios for flammable substances is not required. 
 
Toxic Substances 
 
One alternative release scenario for each toxic substance was conducted for the Facility under the Accidental Release Prevention program.  As with the worst-case release scenario, the alternative release scenario for the toxic substances utilizes the ERPG-2 to determine toxic endpoint. 
 
A hypothetical, but likely to occur, release scenario has been identified for bromine and formalde 
hyde.  For bromine, the Facility will assume a <-inch leak for five minutes from a storage tank.  A liquid height of five feet above the hole in the tank was also assumed.  The alternative scenario for formaldehyde is the puncturing of a drum by a forklift.  A ten gallon leak from the pierced drum is to be assumed. 
 
 
The alternative-case releases of bromine and formaldehyde resulted in a 0.27-mile distance to its endpoint of 0.0065 mg/L and a 0.01-mile distance to its endpoint of 0.12 mg/L respectively. 
 
GENERAL ACCIDENT RELEASE PROGRAM 
 
The following is a summary of the accident prevention program in place at the West Memphis facility. The processes at the plant that are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Risk Management Program (RMP) regulation are also subject to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) process safety management (PSM) standard.  Therefore, this summary addresses each of the OSHA PSM elements and describes the management sy 
stem in place to implement the accident prevention program. 
 
Employee Participation 
 
Active employee participation and involvement in the development and implementation of the Facility's PSM program is an important step toward achieving the objective to prevent or minimize the consequences of catastrophic releases of toxic, reactive, flammable, or explosive chemicals.  Employee involvement will help to ensure that all perspectives regarding PSM are considered, and that the best ideas are implemented.  Open communications are encouraged between supervisors and employees regarding all safety and health issues. 
 
The Facility strongly promotes employee involvement in safety issues through existing programs.  These programs include Hazardous Materials Team (HazMat Teams), regularly scheduled safety meetings, tail-gate safety meetings, Hazard Communication, Safety Suggestion Forms, "near-miss" reporting, and special training programs (emergency response training, first aid, etc.).  
 
The West 
Memphis facility actively seeks employee involvement in the development and conduct of all accident prevention activities through the appropriate existing safety programs.  Accident prevention is discussed at the regularly scheduled safety meetings and/or during special training sessions if necessary.  Employees are encouraged to discuss accident prevention with their supervisors if they have questions, comments, or suggestions.   
 
Process Safety Information 
 
Complete and accurate written process safety information (PSI) concerning process chemicals, process technology, and process equipment is essential to effective PSM and RMP programs and to completing and maintaining a process hazard analysis (PHA).  The PSI will be useful to the operators; the team performing the PHA; those in charge of training; contractors; those conducting pre-startup safety reviews; and those in charge of updating the emergency preparedness plans.  Process Safety Information is readily available to all employ 
ees. 
 
The Facility keeps a variety of technical documents that are used to help maintain safe operation of the process.  These documents address chemical properties and associated hazards, limits for key process parameters and specific chemical inventories, and equipment design basis/configuration information. 
 
Chemical-specific information, including exposure hazards and emergency response/ exposure treatment considerations, is provided in material safety data sheets (MSDSs). The Facility also maintains numerous technical documents that provide information about the design and construction of process equipment.  This information includes materials of construction, design pressure and temperature ratings, and electrical rating of equipment.   
 
This information, in combination with written procedures and trained personnel, provides a basis for establishing inspection and maintenance activities, as well as for evaluating proposed process and facility changes to ensure that safety feature 
s in the process are not compromised. 
 
Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) 
 
The West Memphis facility has a comprehensive program to help ensure that hazards associated with the various processes are identified and controlled.  Within this program, each process is systematically examined to identify hazards and ensure that adequate controls are in place to manage these hazards. 
 
The Facility primarily uses the hazard and operability (HAZOP) method analysis technique to perform these evaluations.  However, as situations warrant, the Facility will use other inductive techniques such as what if/checklist and or other techniques.  The analyses are conducted using a team of people who have operating and maintenance experience as well as engineering expertise.  PHA team members include the process/project engineer responsible for the process/project; plant manager or knowledgeable plant person; person knowledgeable in methods of hazard analysis; and others with particular expertise.  This team ide 
ntifies and evaluates hazards of the process as well as accident prevention and mitigation measures, and the team makes suggestions for additional prevention and/or mitigation measures when the team believes such measures are necessary.  
 
The PHA team findings are forwarded to local and corporate management for resolution. Implementation of mitigation options in response to PHA findings is based on a relative risk matrix assigned by the PHA team.  The matrix is based on severity (criticality) and probability (frequency).  This ranking helps ensure that potential accident scenarios assigned the highest risk receive immediate attention.  All approved mitigation options in response to PHA team findings are tracked until they are completed.  The final resolution of each finding is documented and retained. 
 
To help ensure that the process controls and/or process hazards do not eventually deviate significantly from the original design safety features, the PHA team periodically updates and re 
validates the hazard analysis results.  These periodic reviews are conducted at least every five years and will be conducted at this frequency until the process is no longer operating.  The recommended order of analysis will be based upon the following criteria: 
 
1. age of process;  
2. extent of process hazards;  
3. number of affected employees; and, 
4. operating history of the process.   
 
The results and findings from these updates are documented and retained.  The team findings are forwarded to management for consideration, and the final resolution of the findings is documented and retained. 
 
Operating Procedures 
 
The West Memphis facility maintains written procedures that address various modes of process operations, such as the following: 
 
1. initial startup; 
2. normal operations;  
3. temporary operations;  
4. emergency shutdown;  
5. emergency operations;  
6. normal shutdown;  
7. startup following a turnaround; and, 
8. start up after emergency shutdown.   
 
These procedures provide g 
uidance for experienced operators and also provide the basis for training new operators.   
 
Operating procedures are periodically reviewed and annually certified as current and accurate.  The review is to assure that the procedures reflect current operating practice, include changes from process technology changes, chemical changes, equipment changes, and changes to facilities.  The review and certification process involves both operators and technical staff. 
 
The intent of the operating procedures is to provide workable, useful, and clearly written instructions for conducting operating activities.  To have effective operating procedures, the task and procedures directly and indirectly related to the covered process must be appropriate, clear, consistent, and most importantly, communicated to employees.  Operating procedures are specific instructions or details on what steps are taken or followed in completing the stated procedures.  The specific instructions include the applicable saf 
ety precautions and appropriate information on safety implications. 
 
Training 
 
In addition to training on operating procedures, the Facility has a comprehensive training program for all employees involved in operating the process.  New employees receive basic training in process operations and procedures. In addition, all operators periodically receive refresher training on the operating procedures to ensure that their skills and knowledge are maintained at an acceptable level.  This refresher training is conducted at least every three years.  The appropriate frequency of training is based on management in consultation with the employees involved in operating the particular process.  All of this training is documented for each operator including the means used to verify that the operator understood the training. 
 
Contractors 
 
The West Memphis facility uses contractors during periods of increased maintenance or construction activities.  Because some contractors work on or near process e 
quipment, the Facility has procedures in place to ensure that contractors do the following: 
 
1. perform their work in a safe manner;  
2. have appropriate knowledge and skills;  
3. are aware of the hazards of their workplace; 
4. understand what they should do in the event of an emergency;  
5. understand and follow site specific safety rules; and  
6. inform plant personnel of any hazards that they find during their work.   
 
This is accomplished by providing contractors with an orientation session that covers the following: 
 
1. a process overview;  
2. information about safety and health hazards including known or potential fire, explosion, or toxic release hazards; 
3. emergency response plan requirements; and  
4. safe work practices must be developed and implemented regarding control of entrance, presence and exit of contract personnel prior to beginning their work. 
 
In addition, the Facility evaluates contractor safety programs and performance during the selection of a contractor.  The f 
acility ensures that a contract employee injury and illness log is maintained.  Plant personnel periodically monitor contract performance to ensure that contractors are fulfilling their safety obligations. 
 
Pre-startup Safety Review (PSSR) 
 
The West Memphis facility conducts a PSSR on any new facility modification that requires a change in process safety information.  The purpose of the PSSR is to ensure that safety features, procedures, personnel, and equipment are appropriately prepared for startup prior to placing the equipment and highly hazardous chemicals into service.  This review provides one additional check to make sure construction is in accordance with design specification and that all-supporting systems are operationally ready. 
 
The PSSR involves field verification of the construction and serves a quality assurance function by requiring verification that accident prevention program requirements are properly implemented.  The PSSR also ensures that procedures (safety, opera 
ting, maintenance, and emergency) are in place and are adequate.  Prior to startup, the facility determines that a PHA has been conducted, recommendations resolved, and training of employees involved in the process is verified as part of the PSSR. 
 
Mechanical Integrity 
 
The Facility has well established practices and procedures for maintaining process equipment.  The basic aspects of this program includes the following: 
 
1. training;  
2. developing written procedures;  
3. performing inspections and tests consistent with good engineering practices;  
4. correcting equipment deficiencies outside acceptable PSI limits; and,  
5. applying quality assurance measures.  
 
In combination, these activities form a system that maintains the mechanical integrity of the process. 
 
Maintenance personnel receive training on the following: 
 
1. an overview of the process,  
2. safety and health hazards,  
3. applicable maintenance procedures,  
4. emergency response plans and,  
5. applicable safe work practic 
es to help ensure that they can perform their jobs in a safe manner. 
 
Another integral part of the mechanical integrity program is quality assurance.  The Facility incorporates quality assurance measures into equipment purchases and repairs.  This helps ensure that new equipment is suitable for its intended use and that proper materials and spare parts are used when repairs are made. 
 
Safe Work Practices 
 
Several actions are incorporated during construction of new processes or equipment to ensure these are suitable for the process application.  Checks and inspections are performed to assure that installation is consistent with design specifications and manufacturer's instructions suitable for the particular application.  The Facility has safe work practices in place to help ensure worker and process safety.  Examples of these include the following: 
 
1. control of the entry/presence/exit of support personnel; 
2. a lockout/tag out procedure to ensure isolation of energy sources for equip 
ment undergoing maintenance; 
3. a procedure for safe removal of hazardous and toxic substances before process piping and equipment is opened; 
4. a permit and procedure to control spark-producing activities (i.e., hot work); and, 
5. a permit and procedure to ensure that adequate precautions are in place before entry into a confined space.   
 
These procedures (and others), along with training of affected personnel, form a system to help ensure that operations and maintenance activities are performed safely. 
 
Management of Change 
 
The West Memphis facility has a comprehensive system of written procedures to manage changes to all covered processes.  This system requires that changes to items such as process chemicals, process equipment, technology (including process operating conditions), procedures, impact to safety and health and other facility changes be properly reviewed and authorized before being implemented.  Prior to changes being made, they are reviewed to (1) ensure that adequate 
controls are in place to manage any new hazards and (2) verify that existing controls have not been compromised by the change.  
 
Affected chemical hazard information, process operating limits, and equipment information, as well as procedures are updated to incorporate these changes.  In addition operating and maintenance personnel, including contractor employees, are provided any necessary training on the change. 
 
Incident Investigation 
 
The Facility promptly investigates (within 48 hours) all incidents that resulted in or reasonably could have resulted in, a fire/explosion, toxic gas release, major property damage, environmental loss, or personal injury.  The goal of each investigation is to gather the facts, determine the root cause, and develop corrective action to prevent the reoccurrence of the incident or a similar incident.  The reports are maintained for five years. 
 
An investigation team is established to investigate each process incident.  The team will consist of members in 
volved in the incident including at least one person knowledgeable in the process involved; a contract employee (if the incident involved the work of a contractor); and other persons with appropriate knowledge and experience to thoroughly investigate and analyze the incident.  The investigation team documents its findings in a report.  The report includes dates of the incident and investigation, description of incident, factors contributing to the incident, and develops recommendations to prevent a recurrence, and forwards these results to the business management team for resolution.   
 
Compliance Audits 
 
To help ensure that the accident prevention program is functioning properly, the West Memphis facility periodically conducts an audit to determine whether the procedures and practices required by the accident prevention program are being implemented.  Compliance audits are conducted at least every three years.  Both hourly and staff personnel participate as audit team members with at  
least one person knowledgeable in the audit techniques.  The audit team develops findings in a report that is forwarded to plant management for resolution.  Corrective actions taken in response to the audit team's findings are tracked and documented until they are complete.  The final resolution of each finding is documented, and the appropriate enhancements to the prevention program are implemented.  The two most recent compliance audit reports are retained. 
 
Chemical Specific Prevention Steps 
 
The processes at the West Memphis facility have hazards that must be managed to ensure continued safe operation.  The following sections include descriptions of existing safety features applicable to prevention of accidental releases of regulated substances in the facility. 
 
Universal Prevention Activities 
 
The accident prevention program summarized previously is applied to the RMP-covered process at the West Memphis facility.  Collectively, these prevention program activities help prevent pote 
ntial accident scenarios that could be caused by equipment failures and human errors. 
 
Specialized Safety Features 
 
The Facility has safety features on many units to help (1) contain/control a release, (2) quickly detect a release, and, (3) reduce the consequences (mitigate) of a release.  The following types of safety features are used in the RMP covered process: 
 
Release Detection 
 
1. Sensors with audible alarms are located to detect and warn of leaks. 
 
Release Containment/Control 
 
1. Pressure relief valves on applicable tanks. 
 
Release Mitigation 
 
1.Standard operating procedures that control, isolate, and terminate leaks. 
2. Personnel trained in emergency procedures. 
3. Personal protective equipment (e.g., escape respirator, self-contained breathing apparatus, and supplied air breathing apparatus). 
 
Five Year Accident History 
 
The West Memphis facility has an excellent record of accident prevention over the past five years. There has been no incident involving a regulated substance. 
 
 
Emergency Procedure Information 
 
The Facility maintains a written emergency procedure, which is in place to protect worker and public safety as well as the environment.  The procedures account for the possibility of a toxic substance being accidentally released, as well as for the possibility of a fire or explosion.  The procedures address notification of local emergency response agencies if a release occurs, and post incident cleanup and decontamination requirements.  Employees receive training in emergency procedures. The emergency procedure is updated when necessary based on modifications made to the Facility.  The emergency procedure changes are administered through the Management of Change (MOC) process, which includes informing and/or training affected personnel in the changes. 
 
The West Memphis Fire Department is contacted to respond to emergencies at the Facility.
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