OSHA Inspection: PAN AMERICAN TANNERY/JOHNSTOWN LEATHER CORPORATION

Issued

Jun 15, 1990

Abate by

Jun 25, 1990

Penalty

Initial $810 · Current $810

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
the hazard of a ruptured blowoff line and the unanticipated release of
high pressure steam and/or being struck by unsecured or unbraced blowoff
lines (pipes), in that blowoff pipes were not supportedand braced to
permit expansion of the boiler and pipes and without imposing excessive
stresses on the boiler or connections as specified below by ASME in
paragrah C5.804:
a) Pan American Tanning Corp., Boiler Building #1 - Employees were
exposed to the above noted hazard whole blowing down am Ames oil
fired boiler on or about December 15, 1990.
One feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard
includes, but is not limited to the following:
1) Ensure that blowoff lines are supported and braced to permit
expansion of the boiler and lines without imposing excessive stresses
on the boiler or connections; and inspect blowoff lines periodically
to see that line flexibility is not restricted by obstructions or
any other causes.
Said methods are specified in the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VII,
Recommended Rules for Care of Power Boilers, Subsection C4 - Rules for
the Prevention of Direct Causes of Boiler Failures, Paragraphs C4.311
and Subsection C5 - Partial Rules for Design of Installation, Paragraph
C5.804, 1974 Edition, July 1, 1974.