A FirstEnergy Corp. unit has been cited for several "serious" safety violations that led to the deaths of two workers in late August 2017 at its Bruce Mansfield coal plant in Beaver County, Pa.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Feb. 27 notified FirstEnergy Generation LLC of $77,604 in proposed penalties tied to the fatal accident, which occurred when workers were "exposed to hydrogen sulfide gas" as they were repairing a pipe or piping equipment in an underground pit at the plant.
Two workers with Cincinnati-based Enerfab Inc. were killed as a result of the accident and four workers, including a FirstEnergy Generation employee, were injured.
OSHA said FirstEnergy Generation did not properly evaluate the confined space before allowing the workers to enter and open the 24-inch pipeline and did not provide proper training so that the employees "acquired the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of the duties assigned." OSHA also indicated FirstEnergy Generation did not provide the proper respiratory protection for "an employee who was exposed to hydrogen sulfide gas above the permissible exposure limit."
Enerfab faces $129,340 in fines for similar safety violations including the failure to "select and provide appropriate respiratory protection" and failure to provide proper training.
The companies have 15 working days to signal their intent to contest the citations.
"Safety remains our top priority, and we are committed to fully understanding the cause of this accident to ensure our employees and contractors are working in the safest possible conditions," FirstEnergy spokeswoman Stephanie Walton said in an email. "Immediately following the accident, we implemented a number of steps to enhance safety for workers performing similar work. The company continues to conduct a detailed internal review of the incident."
A fire broke out at the Bruce Mansfield plant in January. No injuries were reported.
The 2,510-MW coal plant is located along the Ohio River and is the largest coal-fired plant in FirstEnergy's fleet.
