Oklahoma Refinery Cited in Fatal Explosion For Repeat Violations, Facing $281,100 Fines

AUSTIN, Texas—An Oklahoma refinery faces $281,100 in proposed penalties for 30 alleged safety violations following a boiler explosion that resulted in the deaths of two employees, the Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced March 27.

After the explosion Sept. 28, 2012, Wynnewood Refining Co., producer of gasoline, propylene, butane, fuel oils, and solvents, was cited in a pair of notices stemming from two separate inspections for failing to follow process safety management standards. One notice was for fines totalling $46,600. The other notice cited $234,500 in penalties.

“Failure to implement effectively OSHA’s process safety management regulations, which protects ...