OSHA Inspection: M.A. PATOUT & SON LTD

Issued

Feb 15, 2001

Abate by

Mar 7, 2001

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $2,940 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish to each of his employees a place of employment which was 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 recognized hazard of being burned by steam
that was released
when a water-steam separator, a pressure vessel, exploded.  No design
requirements had been
established for the water-steam separator.
a)  Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this
hazard is to ensure that all pressure vessels are fabricated in accordance
with the ASME
Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section VIII, Rules for Construction of
PRESSURE
VESSELS, DIVISION 1, 1968 EDITION.  In particular, paragraph U-2(a) reads
as
follows:  (a)  The user or his designated agent shall establish the design
requirements for
pressure vessels, taking into consideration factors associated with normal
operation,
and
such other conditions as start-up and shut-down.
DISCLAIMERS:
1)  You are not limited to the abatement methods suggested above.
2)  The methods explained are general and may not be effective in all
cases.
3)  The employer is responsible for selecting and carrying out an
appropriate method.