OSHA investigating Philadelphia refinery fire

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating a refinery fire in Philadelphia where four employees suffered minor injuries, an agency spokeswoman told Business Insurance in an email.

A fire ripped through the Pennsylvania oil refinery on early Friday — 11 days after another fire broke out at the same facility, according to Reuters.

The employer — Philadelphia Energy Solutions — has a prior history with OSHA, according to the spokeswoman. In August 2016, the agency issued a serious citation and proposed $4,543 penalty due to the employer not addressing human factors in the process hazard analysis, but both the citation and proposed fine were deleted in September 2016 after the company abated the hazard, according to the spokeswoman and OSHA records. A January 2015 inspection was closed in July of that year with no citations issued.

OSHA was not informed about the June 10 fire at the facility and did not investigate, according to the spokeswoman. 

A company spokeswoman could not be immediately reached for comment.