OSHA Inspection: THE NEW YORK VISTA

Issued

Oct 15, 1990

Abate by

Nov 16, 1990

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $1,000

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:
Location: Engineering Department - NY Vista Hotel - Bi Level
The hazard of being struck by steam and debris escaping from ruptured
steam line(s) due to a "water hammer", a condition resulting from
excessive condensate in the steam lines, on or about 6/1/90, which could
result in scalding, burns, serious injury or death.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct this
hazard is to drain all steam piping of any condensate that may have
collected in low points behind closed valves.
To ensure that all lines are drained, the following steps must be
initiated:
a) Provide complete operating procedures for personnel to follow
whenever they are engaged in the energizing or de-energizing aspects
of the procedure, which should include, but not limited to, the
follow elements:
1) Order of valves to be turned off/on,
2) Steps to take whenever a main valve is turned off/on, i.e. open/close
bypasses, open/close blow-offs & open/close traps.
3) Steps to take whenever a valve is found to be in disrepair,
especially if it hinders drainage of condensate,
4) Emergency response procedures,
5) Special instructions,
6) Persons to notify,
7) Paperwork to be completed.
b) Provide comprehensive training to steam employees from the chief
engineer down to the watch engineers, and maintenance workers which
addresses: 1) basics of the steam itself, 2) recognition of the
hazard of condensate in the steam line, 3) what conditions create
the hazards in the steam line, 4) what steps are required to assure
that the lines are safely drained of condensate and 5) what actions
to take when blocked or inoperative valves and other components are
encountered.

Issued

Oct 15, 1990

Abate by

Nov 16, 1990

Penalty

Initial $1,000 · Current $1,000

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:
LOCATION: ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT - NY VISTA HOTEL - B1 LEVEL
THE HAZARD OF BEING STRUCK BY ESCAPING STEAM AND OTHER DEBRIS AS A
RESULT OF FAILURES IN THE STEAM SYSTEM ON OR ABOUT 6/1/90, WHICH
COULD RESULT IN SCALDING BURNS, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
AMONG OTHER METHODS, ONE FEASIBLE AND ACCEPTABLE METHOD TO CORRECT THIS
HAZARD IS TO:
ESTABLISH A COMPREHENSIVE AND EFFECTIVE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM OF THE
STEAM SYSTEM MEETING THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
A) A BASELINE SURVEY OF ENTIRE SYSTEM TO ESTABLISH CURRENT CONDITION
OF SYSTEM AND TO ESTABLISH A SERIOUS SCHEDULE FOR ANY PART OF THE
SYSTEM IN NEED OF MAINTENANCE, REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT.
B) CONDUCT PERIODIC INSPECTIONS OF THE SYSTEM, WHICH SHOULD INCLUDE:
1) VISUAL INSPECTION OF ALL COMPONENTS
2) PHYSICAL OPERATION OF ALL MOVING PARTS INCLUDING; MAIN VALVES,
BYPASS VALVES, TRAP VALVES, BLOW-OFF VALVES, AND CLEANING AND
SERVICING ALL COMPONENTS, AND
3) WRITTEN RECORDS TO TRACK MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.

Issued

Oct 15, 1990

Abate by

Oct 29, 1990

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $600

Issued

Oct 15, 1990

Abate by

Oct 29, 1990

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $600

Issued

Oct 15, 1990

Abate by

Oct 18, 1990

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $600

Issued

Oct 15, 1990

Abate by

Oct 18, 1990

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $600

Issued

Oct 15, 1990

Abate by

Oct 18, 1990

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $600

Issued

Oct 15, 1990

Abate by

Oct 18, 1990

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $600

Issued

Oct 15, 1990

Abate by

Nov 16, 1990

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $600

Issued

Oct 15, 1990

Abate by

Nov 16, 1990

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $600