OSHA Inspection: O.B. HILL MOTOR TRANSPORT CO., INC.

Issued

Mar 3, 1995

Abate by

Mar 7, 1995

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $1,400 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from
recognized hazards that
were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to an uncontrolled pressure vessel explosion:
(a) Location: Garage Area; On 2/10/95, the end cap blew off of a pontoon
which was
being filled with compressed air for testing purposes.  Neither
manufacturer's literature
providing instructions for pressure testing, nor the specifications under
which the pontoon
was manufactured were available.  The pressure that the pontoon was
manufactured to
withstand was not known.  The pontoon sat on the ground for thirty years
and the extent
of any deterioration of the metal or welds was not known.  The contents of
the pontoon
were not known and no testing was performed to determine the contents of
the pontoon.
The air pressure within the pontoon was not monitored while the compressed
air was
being introduced.  The employee performing the pressure testing had not
been trained
in the procedures to be followed when testing a pressure vessel.
Among other means, one feasible means of abatement would be to ensure that
any
employee required to test a pressure vessel be properly trained and
qualified, to have a
qualified person inspect the pressure vessel to determine how much
pressure the vessel
can withstand in its current condition, to test the vessel to determine
the existing
contents, and to monitor the pressure within the vessel at all times while
compressed air
is being introduced.