OSHA Inspection: BECON CONSTRUCTION, CO.

Issued

Mar 12, 2003

Abate by

Apr 7, 2003

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

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 physical harm to employees
in that employees
were exposed to:
(a)Serious burns from steam release,where on or about December 6, 2002,
company was  preforming Turbine Trip Test in the 1AA01-07 piping system at
the Cottonwood Power Project. Two employees received serious burns to the
hands , face and arms.The release was due to a missing gasket in the
system.
Reference: ANSI B31.1-1977 Edition-for Gaskets, in section 108.4. Company
did not follow the guidelines in this paragraph.
(b)Company did not follow the industry practice of evacuating the area of
all non-
essential personnel when start-up testing is performed. This company
acknowledged the policy, but did not follow it.Reference: Accident
Prevention
Manual for Industrial Operations 7th. Edition page 1405. The two seriously
injured employees were not required to be in the area to assist in the
testing.
Among others, one feasible and acceptable method to correct the hazard is
the development
and implementation of the following:
(a)Employees not required for testing procedures should be evacuated from
area
prior to test.
(b)Warning systems, such as horns, should be used to warn employees prior
to
testing.
(c)Foreman should monitor the operation to assure that employees have
evacuated
the area prior to test.
(d)Employees  should be trained on the warning systems.
(e)Develop procedure for verification that the various combination of
flange
materials, the selection of bolting materials and related rules concerning
flange
faces and gaskets conforms to the requirements listed in Table 108.5.2 of
ANSI B31.1-1977 Edition.
*** Certification and Documentation of Abatement Required ***