Flint Hills refinery sets safety record

Flint Hills Resources Alaska North Pole Refinery employees have set a new mark for safety. The company said Oct. 28 that the refinery went more than 730 consecutive days — more than two years and 1.5 million hours — without a recordable safety incident under the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, both a new plant record for the refinery and a new companywide safety record for Flint Hills’ refineries, the company said Oct. 28.

“This is a significant milestone that is very difficult to attain in any industry,” Mark Gregory, vice president of manufacturing and refinery manager, said in a statement. “Our employees have performed remarkably well and they deserve all the credit for taking personal ownership in always putting safety first.”

Recordable incidents are those that may require first aid, but not medical attention. In 2007, the average recordable incident rate for U.S. refineries was 1.40 per every 200,000 hours worked, Flint Hills said.

The North Pole refinery previously received the Gold award from the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association for reducing its recordable incidents by 44 percent in 2006.

The North Pole Refinery has a crude oil processing capacity of about 220,000 barrels per day and produces gasoline, jet fuel, heating oil, diesel fuel, gasoil and asphalt for supply to both local and international markets. About 60 percent of the refinery’s production is for the aviation market. Flint Hills Resources LP is a wholly owned subsidiary of Koch Industries Inc.

—Petroleum News