Some personal identifiers have been redacted for privacy purposes

THIS CASE IS NOT A FINAL ORDER OF THE REVIEW COMMISSION AS IT IS PENDING COMMISSION REVIEW

United States of America

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION

1120 20th Street, N.W., Ninth Floor

Washington, DC 20036-3457

SECRETARY OF LABOR,

Complainant,

v. OSHRC Docket No. 17-2144

TAMPA ELECTRIC COMPANY,

Respondent.

DECISION AND ORDER

COUNSEL: 

Melanie Stratton, Jonathan Hoffmeister, Attorneys, Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Department of 

Labor, Atlanta, GA, for Complainant. 

Phillip B. Russell, Melissa A. Bailey, Aaron Morris Wilensky, Dee Anna D. Hays, Attorneys, 

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, PC , Tampa, FL, for Respondent. 

JUDGE: John B. Gatto, United States Administrative Law Judge. 

I. INTRODUCTION

This case arose from an anhydrous ammonia release that occurred on May 23, 2017, at the 

Big Bend Power Plant (“Big Bend”) in Tampa, Florida (“the worksite”), operated by Tampa 

Electric Company (“TECO”). The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration (“OSHA”) conducted an investigation and subsequently issued a two-item citation 

to TECO for alleged violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (the Act), 29 

U.S.C. §§ 651–678, with proposed penalties of $18,108.00.

1 After TECO timely contested the 

 

1 The Secretary of Labor has delegated his authority under the Act to the Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety 

and Health, who heads OSHA, and has delegated exclusively to the Solicitor of Labor the responsibility for bringing 

legal proceedings under the Act and the determination of whether such proceedings are appropriate in a given case. 

See Order No. 1–2012 (77 FR 3912). The terms “Secretary” and “OSHA” are used interchangeably herein. The 
2

citation, the Secretary of Labor (“Secretary”) filed a formal complaint2 with the Commission 

charging TECO with violating the Act and seeking an order affirming the citation and proposed 

penalties. A bench trial was held in Tampa, Florida.

There is no dispute that jurisdiction of this action is conferred upon the Commission by 

section 10(c) of the Act, 29 U.S.C. § 659(c), that TECO is an employer engaged in a business 

affecting commerce within the meaning of section 3(5) of the Act, 29 U.S.C. § 652(5), or that 

TECO’s principal place of business is in Tampa, Florida (Compl. ¶¶ I-III; Answer ¶¶ I-III; see also

Jt. Prehearing State. ¶¶ V(A) and V(E)). After hearing and carefully considering all the evidence 

and the arguments of counsel, the Court issues this Decision and Order, which constitutes its final 

disposition of the proceedings.3 For the reasons indicated infra, the Court VACATES both Items

1 and 2 of the citation. 

II. BACKGROUND4

TECO operates a coal-fired power plant located in Apollo Beach, Florida. TECO uses 

anhydrous ammonia in its Selective Catalytic Reduction (“SCR”) system to lower the amount of 

NOx emitted from its boilers. Instead of storing large quantities of anhydrous ammonia onsite, 

they receive it on an as-needed basis via a pipeline from the Tampa Bay Pipeline Company. The 

ammonia skid is the portion of the site where the pipeline comes above ground and the anhydrous 

ammonia is reduced in pressure and then heated to form a vapor to be used in the SCR. The skid 

consists of two identical 'trains' (A train and B train). Typically, only one train is in use at a time. 

All of the pressure relief devices associated with the ammonia skid have their discharge sides hardpiped into a water-filled sump. The ammonia system is continuously monitored and remotely 

controlled by the distributed control system (“DCS”). Its displays/interfaces are seen by the 

operators in the control room. The entire skid rests on expanded metal decking and is several feet 

above ground. There are atmospheric ammonia detectors installed in several locations on the skid. 

There are emergency breathers located at the top of each of the three sets of stairs leading up to 

the skid. There is also a windsock at the northwest comer of the skid. The water-filled sump is

 

Assistant Secretary has authorized OSHA’s Area Directors to issue citations and proposed penalties. See 29 C.F.R. §§ 

1903.14(a) and 1903.15(a).

2 The citation at issue was attached to the complaint as an exhibit. Commission Rule 30(d) provides that “[a] copy 

of any written instrument which is an exhibit to a pleading is a part thereof for all purposes.” 29 C.F.R § 2200.30(d).

3

If any finding is in truth a conclusion of law, or if any stated conclusion is in truth a finding of fact, it shall be 

deemed so. 

4 The facts are based on the expert report of Jennifer T. Morningstar and the parties’ stipulations. (See Ex. R-34; Jt. 

Prehearing State. ¶¶ IV(A) - IV(X)).
3

located below ground level and beside the southwest stairs. There is a remotely-operated

emergency shutoff valve located just after the piping emerges from underground to the north of 

the raised skid. There is another emergency stop station across the street from the south side of the 

skid. 

The anhydrous ammonia supplied by the pipeline is in liquid form and at a pressure too 

high for the TECO SCR system to use. The purpose of the ammonia skid is to first reduce the 

pressure of the liquid ammonia and then heat up the liquid to form an ammonia vapor suitable for 

the SCR system. Each train on the skid has two pressure relief valves (“PRV”). The purpose of a 

PRV is to provide a controlled outflow of process material during a high-pressure surge event. 

Instead of rupturing the pipe resulting in an uncontrolled release, the seat of the PRV will lift until 

the system pressure falls below its setpoint and then it will reseat. In this case, the outlet of each

vent is hard-piped to a water-filled sump. Since ammonia is soluble in water, this system design 

will capture ammonia coming from the PRVs.

On the morning of May 23, 2017, the ammonia pipeline supply pressure was fluctuating.

The B train was in service but was having problems maintaining appropriate supply pressure for

the SCR's. The A train was also brought on-line at approximately 5 a.m., to help control the system 

pressure. According to TECO process data, at approximately 11:18 a.m. the supply pressure 

jumped from 250 psig to 375 psig and then settled out at about 350 psig. During this spike, a 

pressure relief valve in B train lifted and ammonia was discharged through the piping into the 

sump.

At approximately 12:06 p.m. the overhead alarm came in on the common alarm screen in 

the control room from point OAAHG 108A, indicating the atmospheric ammonia detector on the

southwest comer of the skid, beside the sump vent had detected ammonia. The common DCS

system had just been upgraded and the audible alarm was not yet in service, therefore, the control 

room operators did not immediately recognize the alarm had triggered. When this alarm tripped at 

the skid, a local, audible horn sounds, as well. [redacted], a Critical Intervention Services (“CIS”) 

employee assigned to Gate 50, heard the alarm at approximately 12:30 p.m.

Instead of returning to Gate 50 to notify TECO, [redacted] drove his vehicle to the south

side of the ammonia skid and parked it. [redacted] incorrectly assumed the audible alarm was for 

a door to the small building on the skid. [redacted] left his vehicle to investigate and walked up 

the southwest stairs right beside the sump vent. [redacted] inhaled the ammonia vapors present in 
4

the sump vent gases and immediately returned to his truck. [redacted] then notified his supervisor. 

[redacted], his supervisor and another CIS employee made several trips to and from the skid, Gate 

50 and Gate 32. A CIS employee called the local fire department.

TECO’s control room was notified of the alarm. The control room operator, William 

Bruegger, determined the pressure control valve on B train had lifted and vented ammonia into the 

sump. (Id.) He radioed to Curtis Garland, plant operator (a rover) to go to the skid, assess the 

situation, and stop the leak. (Id.) Ronnie Howard, George Cantrell, and Garland helped close a 

relief valve located at Train B at the ammonia skid even though none of them had any ammonia 

detection equipment on them and were not wearing positive pressure respirators.

III. ANALYSIS

Section 1910.120(q) of the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response 

(“HAZWOPER”) standard “covers employers whose employees are engaged in emergency 

response no matter where it occurs” and requires employers to develop and implement an 

emergency response plan “to handle anticipated emergencies prior to the commencement of 

emergency response operations.” 29 C.F.R. § 1910.120(q)(1). TECO admits the HAZWOPER

standard applies to its facility since its rovers are designated to engage in emergency responses 

(Resp’t’s Br. at 34). TECO was cited with two separate violations of § 1910.120(q). Item 1 alleges 

a serious violation of § 1910.120(q)(2), which establishes the minimum required elements of an 

emergency response plan, which TECO calls an “Integrated Contingency Plan” (“ICP”).

5

Item 2 

alleges a serious violation of § 1910.120 (q)(3)(iv), which requires the use of positive pressure 

self-contained breathing apparatus while engaged in an emergency response involving an 

inhalation hazard.

In the Eleventh Circuit, the jurisdiction in which this case arose,6“[t]o make a prima facie 

showing that an employer violated an OSHA standard, the Secretary must show: “(1) that the 

 

5 Facilities that must comply with both EPA's Risk Management Plan rule and OSHA's emergency response

requirements under the HAZWOPER standard may prepare an ICP according to guidance published by the National 

Response Team in order to comply with both regulations. (See Ex. R-5.) The National Response Team's ICP Guidance 

was published in the Federal Register on June 5, 1996. (See 61 FR 28641.) TECO has a 326-page document titled, 

“Tampa Electric Company Big Bend Station Integrated Contingency Plan (ICP)” (see Ex. R-4). “The ICP 

consolidates, into a single functional plan, several plans that Big Bend needs to comply with Federal and State of 

Florida contingency planning requirements regarding chemical spills,” and “preparation of the ICP was accomplished 

using the National Response Team's (NRT's) [ICP] Guidance.” (Ex. R-4, § 1.1.)

6 Under the Act, both parties may seek review in the court of appeals in the circuit in which the violation occurred

and the circuit in which the employer’s principal office is located, and in addition, the employer may seek review in 

the District of Columbia Circuit. 29 U.S.C. §§ 660(a), (b). The citation was issued in Tampa, Florida, where TECO’s 
5

regulation applied; (2) that it was violated; (3) that an employee was exposed to the hazard that 

was created; and importantly, (4) that the employer ‘knowingly disregarded’ the Act’s

requirements.” Eller-Ito Stevedoring Co., LLC v. Sec'y of Labor, 567 F. App'x 801, 803 (11th Cir. 

2014) (citation omitted). “If the Secretary establishes a prima facie case with respect to all four 

elements, the employer may then come forward and assert the affirmative defense of unpreventable 

or unforeseeable employee misconduct.” Id., 567 F. App'x at 803 (citation omitted). However, 

“[a]s has often been said, OSHA does not impose strict liability on an employer but rather focuses 

liability where the harm can in fact be prevented.” Central of Ga. R.R. Co. v. Occupational Safety 

and Health Review Comm'n, 576 F.2d 620, 623 (5th Cir.1978).7 The Court addresses infra, each 

citation item separately.

A. Item 1

Section 1910.120(q)(2) requires the employer to develop an emergency response plan for 

emergencies that address, as a minimum, the following elements to the extent that they are not 

addressed elsewhere:

(i) Pre-emergency planning and coordination with outside parties.

(ii) Personnel roles, lines of authority, training, and communication.

(iii) Emergency recognition and prevention.

(iv) Safe distances and places of refuge.

(v) Site security and control.

(vi) Evacuation routes and procedures.

(vii) Decontamination.

(viii) Emergency medical treatment and first aid.

(ix) Emergency alerting and response procedures.

(x) Critique of response and follow-up.

(xi) PPE and emergency equipment.

(xii) Emergency response organizations may use the local emergency response plan or the 

state emergency response plan or both, as part of their emergency response plan to avoid 

duplication. Those items of the emergency response plan that are being properly addressed 

 

principal place of business is also located, both in the Eleventh Circuit. “[I]n general, ‘[w]here it is highly probable 

that a Commission decision would be appealed to a particular circuit, the Commission has ... applied the precedent of 

that circuit in deciding the case—even though it may differ from the Commission's precedent.’” Dana Container, Inc., 

25 BNA OSHC 1776, 1792 n.10 (No. 09-1184, 2015), aff’d, 847 F.3d 495 (7th Cir. 2017) (citation omitted). 

Therefore, the Court applies the precedent of the Eleventh Circuit in deciding the case, where it is highly probable that 

a Commission decision would be appealed to.

7 The Eleventh Circuit was created when the Fifth Circuit split on October 1, 1981. Immediately after the split, the

Eleventh Circuit stated in Bonner v. City of Prichard, Alabama, 661 F. 2d 1206 (11th Cir. 1981), that any opinion

issued by the Fifth Circuit before the close of business on September 30, 1981 is binding precedent on the Eleventh

Circuit. Further, the decisions of the continuing Fifth Circuit's Administrative Unit B are also binding on the Eleventh 

Circuit, while Unit A decisions are merely persuasive. Dresdner Bank AG v. M/V Olympia Voyager, 446 F.3d 1377 

(11th Cir. 2006).
6

by the SARA Title III plans may be substituted into their emergency plan or otherwise kept 

together for the employer and employee's use.

29 C.F.R. § 1910.120(q)(2). As amended, the Secretary alleges in Item 1 TECO’s ICP did not 

have all of the following minimum requirements:

iv. Safety distances and places of refuge;

vi. Evacuation routes and procedures;

vii. Decontamination;

xi. PPE and emergency equipment. 

Whether Cited Standard Applied

TECO admits the requirements of § 1910.120(q)(2) applied to its operations and its ICP 

was required to meet §1910.120(q)(2). (See Jt. Prehearing State. ¶ V(D).) Therefore, § 

1910.120(q)(2) applied to the cited conditions.

Whether Requirements of Standard Met

To determine the meaning of a standard, the Commission and the courts consider the 

language of the standard, the legislative history, and, if the drafter's intent remains unclear, the 

reasonableness of the agency's interpretation. Arcadian Corporation, 17 BNA OSHC 1345, 1346

(No. 93-3270, 1995), aff'd, 110 F.3d 1192 (5th Cir. 1997). “Congress intended to delegate to the 

Commission the type of nonpolicymaking adjudicatory powers typically exercised by a court in 

the agency-review context. Under this conception of adjudication, the Commission is authorized 

to review the Secretary's interpretations only for consistency with the regulatory language and for 

reasonableness.” Martin v. Occupational Safety and Health Review Comm'n, 499 U.S. 144, 152-

55 (1991). 

Citing to OSHA Instruction CPL-02-02-073 (“Directive”),

8

the Secretary asserts “TECO 

did not comply with four of the twelve subparts listed by § 1910.120(q)(2).” (Compl’t’s Br. at 9) 

(citing Ex. R-5). Assuming, arguendo, this Directive is OSHA’s construction of its own 

regulations,

9

the Secretary must first show the meaning of the standard is ambiguous, that is, the 

meaning of the standard “is not free from doubt.” (Id.) He has made no such showing and his brief 

 

8 CPL-02-02-073, Inspection Procedures for 29 CFR 1910.120 and 1926.65, Paragraph (q): Emergency Response 

to Hazardous Substance Releases (Aug. 27, 2007). (See Ex. R-5). 

9 Not all agency publications are of binding force. Lyng v. Payne, 476 U.S. 926, 937 (1986). The cited Directive is 

not one of OSHA’s Standard Interpretation letters, and it is OSHA’s Standard Interpretation letters that constitute 

OSHA's interpretation of the requirements discussed in the associated standards. See https://www.osha.gov/lawsregs/standardinterpretations/standardnumber/1910/1910.120%20-%20Index/result.
7

makes no mention of any ambiguity in the cited portions of the HAZWOPER standard. Further, 

even if the standard is ambiguous, the Secretary's interpretation must “sensibly conform[] to the 

purpose and wording of the regulations,” Martin, 499 U.S. at 150–51, which, as indicated infra, it 

does not. 

There is no question that § 1910.120(q)(2) is a “performance” standard. It identifies an 

objective— the development of an emergency response plan for emergencies that addresses the 

minimum requirements related to the four cited elements—but does not specify the means for 

accomplishing it. Cent. Fla. Equip. Rentals, Inc., 25 BNA OSHC 2147, 2150 (No. 08-1656, 2016). 

“Such broad standards may be given meaning in particular situations by reference to objective 

criteria, including the knowledge of reasonable persons familiar with the industry.” Siemens 

Energy & Automation, Inc., 20 BNA OSHC 2196 (No. 00-1052, 2005). “Because performance 

standards ... do not identify specific obligations, they are interpreted in light of what is reasonable.” 

Thomas Indus. Coatings, Inc., 21 BNA OSHC 2283, 2287 (No. 97-1073, 2007); see also McGraw 

Constr. Co., 15 BNA OSHC 2144, 2148 (No. 89-2220, 1993) (applying reasonable person test); 

Siemens, 20 BNA OSHC at n. 8 (employer's exercise of discretion is judged by reasonable person 

or “reasonably prudent employer” standard). 

In promulgating this performance standard, the Secretary clearly recognized that a “one 

size fits all” approach would not work. He cannot come back now and say he put in the Directive

what he affirmatively chose not to put in this performance standard, which by its nature provides 

TECO “with a certain degree of discretion in determining what ... is appropriate to ensure that its 

program meets the standard's stated objective.” Cent. Fla. Equip., 25 BNA OSHC at 2150 (quoting 

Siemens, 20 BNA OSHC at 2198). To the extent the Secretary now seeks to identify specific 

obligations vis- à-vis the Directive, he is attempting to improperly convert this performance 

standard to a specification standard. Therefore, the Court concludes since the Directive imposes

specific obligations, it is an unreasonable interpretation of § 1910.120(q)(2) since it does not 

“sensibly conform” to the purpose of that provision, which is to be a performance standard. 

Under Commission precedent, the Secretary can prove a violation of a broadly-worded 

standard by showing that a reasonable person familiar with the situation, including any facts unique 

to the particular industry, would recognize a hazardous condition requiring the use of protective 

measures. Farrens Tree Surgeons, Inc., 15 BNA OSHC 1793, 1794 (No. 90-998, 1992). The 

Commission has held that evidence as to current industry practice is relevant but is not dispositive. 
8

Brooks Well Servicing, Inc., 20 BNA OSHC 1286, 1291 (No. 99-0849, 2003) (citing Baker Tank 

Co., 17 BNA OSHC 1177, 1179 (No. 90-1786-S, 1995)). However, binding Fifth Circuit

precedent differs from that of the Commission's reasonable person test. While Commission 

precedent holds that industry custom and practice are useful points of reference but are not 

controlling, the Fifth Circuit has stated that, when a reasonable person test is used to determine 

what is required under a general standard, there should be a close identification between the 

projected behavior of the reasonable person and the customary practice of employers in the 

industry. B & B Insulation v. Occupational Safety and Health Review Comm'n, 583 F.2d 1364, 

1370 (5th Cir. 1978).

10 See also S & H Riggers & Erectors, Inc. v. Occupational Safety & Health 

Review Comm'n, 659 F.2d 1273 (5th Cir. Unit B 1981) (in the absence of a clear articulation by 

Commission of circumstances when industry practice is not controlling, due process requires 

showing that employer failed to provide what is customarily required in its industry).

With respect to §§ 1910.120(q)(2)(iv), 1910.120(q)(2)(vi), and 1910.120(q)(2)(xi), the 

Secretary proffered no evidence that employers in TECO’s industry would customarily include in 

their emergency response plans the specific obligations imposed by OSHA in the Directive. 

Likewise, the Secretary proffered no evidence TECO’s emergency response plan was not 

“reasonable” under the circumstances. Instead, the only evidence the Secretary offered was that 

TECO did not implement the specific obligations imposed in OSHA’s Directive.

11 Thus, the Court 

concludes the Secretary has failed to establish TECO violated §§ 1910.120(q)(2)(iv), 1910.120

(q)(2)(vi), and 1910.120(q)(2)(xi). 

 

10 In B&B, the Fifth Circuit noted that although the “reasonable person” standard is borrowed from tort law and 

industry custom is not dispositive on the issue of the standard of care in negligence actions, rigid application of the 

tort law concept would be inconsistent with the preventive goals of OSHA and Congress's expressed preference for 

specific rather than general standards. 583 F.2d at 1370, 71.

11 For example, pursuant to the Directive, to satisfy § 1910.120(q)(2)(iv), the Secretary asserts TECO’s ICP must 

“include a map with identified places of refuge.” If shelter-in-place is an available emergency response, the ICP 

“should discuss the method of alerting employees that a shelter-in-place is underway and explain how the shelter-inplace alarm can be distinguished from an alarm to evacuate.” TECO’s ICP “should also identify the person responsible 

for initiating a shelter-in-place, state what situations will require employees to shelter-in-place and explain what 

actions employees should take to ensure shelter-in-place locations are safe (e.g. turn off the HVAC air exchange).” 

(Compl’t’s Br. at 9-10) (citing Ex. R-5, p.22-23). Under § 1910.120(q)(2)(vi), the Secretary asserts TECO was 

required to comply with 29 CFR § 1910.38, which “sets forth several minimum requirements” that TECO’s ICP “must 

cover, including: emergency procedures that explain emergency evacuation (i.e. evacuation and exit route 

assignments), and an explanation of how the employer will account for employees after the evacuation.” According 

to the Secretary, TECO’s ICP “does not contain these elements.” (Id.) (citing Tr. 325-326; Ex. R-3, R-4). Under § 

1910.120(q)(2)(xi), the Secretary asserts “[a]ccording to the OSHA Directive, an [ICP] that complies with subpart xi 

will list a company’s inventory of personal protective equipment (PPE) and emergency response equipment that 

responders will need in an emergency.” (Compl’t’s Br. at 12) (citing Ex. R-5, pp.27-28). 
9

As to § 1910.120(q)(2)(vii), “decontamination” is defined in the HAZWOPER standard as 

“the removal of hazardous substances from employees and their equipment to the extent necessary 

to preclude the occurrence of foreseeable adverse health [e]ffects.” 29 C.F.R. § 1910.120(a)(4).

Appendix C, the Compliance Guidelines to § 1910.120, indicates:

Decontamination procedures should be tailored to the specific hazards of the site, 

and may vary in complexity and number of steps, depending on the level of hazard 

and the employee's exposure to the hazard. Decontamination procedures and PPE 

decontamination methods will vary depending upon the specific substance, since 

one procedure or method may not work for all substances. Evaluation of 

decontamination methods and procedures should be performed, as necessary, to 

assure that employees are not exposed to hazards by re-using PPE.

29 C.F.R. § 1910.120, App. C. 

The Secretary argues TECO’s emergency response plan “has no provisions for 

decontaminating emergency responders” and “discusses decontamination of equipment in only the 

broadest of terms—that equipment should be refitted for its intended use and contaminated 

consumables will be ‘disposed of as hazardous wastes.’ There is no explanation of how equipment 

should be cleaned or what equipment should be decontaminated rather than disposed of.”

(Compl’t’s Br. at 11) (citing Tr. 327:10-15, 22-328:6; see also Ex. R-5, p. 24-25). TECO’s asserts 

its emergency response plan addresses decontamination of people and equipment, since it provides

8-hour HAZWOPER Refresher Training, its ICP contains first aid measures, and it has a safety 

data sheet for anhydrous ammonia, all of which TECO asserts, cover decontamination. (Resp’t’s 

Br. at 38) (citing Tr. 546; Ex. R-11 at TECO_000025; Ex. R-4 at SEC000791; Ex. R-9 at TECO 

000561). 

TECO’s ICP provides:

In the affected area(s) of the facility, the cleanup response team must ensure that 

no material and/or waste that may be incompatible with the released material are 

brought onsite until cleanup procedures are completed. Confirmatory testing may 

be required to determine the area is safe for direct human contact. The fire 

protection system, secondary containment, and emergency equipment must be 

cleaned or otherwise fit for its intended use before operations are resumed to 

normal. The determination that the facility can be safely reoccupied will be made 

by the Incident Commander. All equipment will be decontaminated after its use.

(Ex. R-4 § 2.2.) Further it provides, 

The environmental coordinator will ensure that all TEC-owned equipment listed in 

the contingency plan is cleaned and fit for its intended use before being placed back 
10

into inventory. Consumables will be restocked. Contaminated consumables will be 

handled and disposed as solid or hazardous wastes, depending on the nature and 

extent of contamination. The contractor is responsible for ensuring that the 

equipment used in recovery and cleanup is decontaminated before being moved to 

unaffected locations. 

(Ex. R-4 Annex 3 § A.3-4.6.) TECO’s Checklist CP-18 Chemical Specific Response: Anhydrous 

Ammonia in its ICP also has a first aid provision indicating:

Substance PPE Response

Anhydrous

Ammonia

Refer to MSDS 

sheet(s) for 

appropriate 

respiratory 

protection and 

personal protective 

equipment (PPE) 

requirements or 

contact #E for 

technical assistance

FIRST AID

Eye Contact: Flush eyes with water for at least 15 minutes and seek 

medical attention.

Skin Contact: Flush with large quantities of water and seek medical 

aid.

Inhalation: Remove from exposure. If breathing has stopped or is 

difficult, administer artificial respiration and oxygen as needed . 

Seek medical attention.

Ingestion: DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. Drink large amounts 

of water and seek

medical attention.

(Ex. R-4 p. 65) Without any supporting authority, the Secretary argues, “first aid procedures are 

not the same as decontamination procedures. An emergency responder who wears appropriate 

personal protective equipment may never need first aid but could still need decontamination. 

Conversely, a responder receiving first aid could unintentionally harm those trying to assist him 

if he is not properly decontaminated.” (Compl’t’s Br. at 11 n. 8.)

TECO’s also maintains a Safety Data Sheet on ammonia (referenced in the ICP), which 

states:

Section 4. First-aid measures 

Eye contact: Immediately flush eyes with excess, low-pressure potable water for at least 15 minutes; lift eyelids in 

process. Remove contacts ASAP. Seek immediate medical aid. Symptoms: Redness, severe burning & watering of the

eyes. Liquid ammonia may cause frost bite. Effects: Possible permanent damage or even blindness.

Inhalation: Remove from exposure. If breathing is difficult or has stopped, provide oxygen or artificial respiration as

appropriate. Seek immediate medical aid. Symptoms: Severe burning of nose & other parts of respiratory system.

Effects: Possible permanent damage to respiratory system (including lungs) or even death.

Skin contact: Immediately flush body with excess, low-pressure potable water for at least 15 minutes while removing all

contaminated clothing and shoes. Seek immediate medical aid. Symptoms: Burning sensation or even blistering.

Liquid exposure may cause frostbite. Wash clothing & shoes before reuse. Effects: Potential severe blistering.

Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting. Have victim drink large amount of potable water if conscious. Seek immediate

medical aid. Symptoms/Effects: May burn mouth, throat & stomach.

Summary: Potable water is preferred in all cases; but, any water is likely to be much better than no water.
11

(Ex. R-9 at TECO 000561). TECO’s HAZWOPER Refresher Training also contains two slides 

providing a definition for decontamination and indicating it shall have a decontamination plan. 

(See Ex. R-11 at TECO_000025.)

The Court concludes the Secretary has not established TECO’s decontamination 

procedures were not reasonable under the circumstances, especially since the Secretary 

acknowledged in the Compliance Guidelines that decontamination procedures and PPE 

decontamination methods will vary depending upon the specific substance. Further, to the extent 

TECO’s ICP incorporates by reference information from other documents, such as its safety data 

sheet for anhydrous ammonia, the Secretary has failed to establish the incorporation was not 

reasonable under the circumstances. Again, the Secretary proffered no evidence that employers in 

TECO’s industry would customarily include in their emergency response plans anything more than

what TECO has included in its plan. Therefore, the Secretary has not established TECO’s 

emergency response plan was not “reasonable” under the circumstances and thus, has failed to 

establish TECO violated § 1910.120(q)(2)(vii). Accordingly, Item 1 must be vacated.

B. Item 2

Item 2 alleges a violation of § 1910.120(q)(3)(iv) related to procedures for handling 

emergency response, which requires “[e]mployees engaged in emergency response and exposed 

to hazardous substances presenting an inhalation hazard or potential inhalation hazard shall wear 

positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus while engaged in emergency response, until 

such time that the individual in charge of the [Incident Command System] determines through the 

use of air monitoring that a decreased level of respiratory protection will not result in hazardous 

exposures to employees.” 29 C.F.R. § 1910.120(q)(3)(iv). The Secretary alleges in Item 2:

[E]mployees responded to an emergency, caused by the release of an unknown 

quantity of anhydrous ammonia, to the atmosphere. Employees were exposed to 

levels at or above 50.0 parts per million, on or about 05/23/2017. No positive 

pressure respirator and monitoring was available and/or provided during response.

Whether Cited Standard Applied

Under the HAZWOPER standard, an “emergency response” is “a response effort by 

employees ... to an occurrence which results, or is likely to result, in an uncontrolled release of a 

hazardous substance.” 29 C.F.R. § 1910.120(a)(3). TECO argues on the day of the release, the 

rovers did not engage in an “emergency response” within the scope of the HAZWOPER standard 

as “the incident did not result and was not likely to result in an uncontrolled release of anhydrous 
12

ammonia.” (Resp’t’s Br. at 14.) Instead, TECO argues the release was an “incidental release,”

which was “absorbed, neutralized, and otherwise controlled at the time of release with no actual 

or potential inhalation hazards.” (Resp’t’s Br. at 15.) The Court finds no merit in TECO’s 

argument.

When an incidental release of a hazardous substance is involved, the HAZWOPER 

standard provides such responses are not considered to be emergency responses within the scope 

of this standard “where the substance can be absorbed, neutralized, or otherwise controlled at the 

time of release by employees in the immediate release area ....” 29 C.F.R. § 1910.120(a)(3) 

(emphasis added). Assuming, arguendo, the release was an “incidental release,” TECO 

nonetheless admits “[s]ome of the ammonia discharged through the pressure relief valve did not 

get absorbed into the water in the sump and was released into the atmosphere. (Parties State. 

Admitted Facts ¶ (IV)(P)). Therefore, the release was within the scope of this standard since it 

was not completely “absorbed, neutralized, or otherwise controlled at the time of release.”

Therefore, § 1910.120(q)(3)(iv) applied to the cited condition.

Whether Employees had Access to Hazardous Condition

Responses to releases of hazardous substances are not considered to be emergency 

responses “where there is no potential safety or health hazard (i.e., fire, explosion, or chemical 

exposure)[.]” 29 C.F.R. § 1910.120(a)(3) (emphasis added). TECO argues “[t]he Secretary 

presented no evidence that TECO’s rovers were exposed to any safety or health hazard[.]”

(Resp’t’s Br. at 15.)

The “permissible exposure limit” or “PEL” means “the exposure, inhalation or dermal 

permissible exposure limit specified in 29 CFR part 1910, subparts G and Z.” 29 C.F.R. § 

1910.120(a)(3). As indicated supra, the parties stipulated OSHA’s PEL for ammonia is 50 ppm 

averaged over an 8-hour workday. (See Jt. Prehearing State. ¶ IV(S)). TECO’s expert opined the 

exposure level was 18.2 ppm over a time-weighted average of eight hours, which is significantly 

less than the PEL for anhydrous ammonia. (Tr. 617-18.) She also opined the exposure level at the 

other ammonia sensors were close to zero given the small amount of anhydrous ammonia released. 

(Tr. 618.) The Secretary presented no evidence to rebut this expert testimony. 

As the Secretary acknowledged in his preamble to the interim final rule adopting the first 

version of § 1910.120, the established PEL term “is defined to give direction as to the appropriate 

degree of protection needed to be achieved by personal protective equipment and other similar 
13

purposes.” Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, 51 FR 45654-01. The Court 

concludes the Secretary has failed to establish TECO employees had access to a hazardous 

condition since he failed to establish TECO’s employees were exposed to any safety or health 

hazard, i.e., exposure above the established PEL for ammonia. Accordingly, Item 2 must be 

vacated.

IV. ORDER

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT Items 1 and 2 of the Citation 1 are VACATED and no 

penalty is assessed.

SO ORDERED.

/s/ John B. Gatto

First Judge John B. Gatto

Dated: March 15, 2019

Atlanta, GA