OSHA Inspection: SOFIA ENTERPRISES, L.P. DBA H.T.C. INDUSTRIES

Issued

May 28, 2004

Abate by

Jun 4, 2004

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $2,100

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 being burned by materials expelled from open
cooker doors:
(a)  On or about 04/09/04 workers were burned from 265 degree F. materials
that were
expelled from #1 cooker during unloading operations. This cooker is one of
ten, located in the
rendering area.  A bolt connecting an actuator to the butterfly vent valve
had failed causing the
valve not to respond to controls.  The cooker had been running hotter and
steaming more then
usual for at least a day before the accident.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is
to:  1.  Develop and implement written operating procedures for all
cookers which shall, at a
minimum, address normal and emergency operations, inspection of vent
piping and valves, and
training of all affected management, supervisory and operating personnel
on safe operation of
the cookers.  The best "safety device" is and always has been a well
trained operator.  2.  Add
pressure gauges to the cookers to make certain there is no pressure inside
of the cooker before
the door is opened.  Without the gauges it is difficult for an operator to
know if in fact any
internal pressure has been built up inside the vessel.

Issued

May 28, 2004

Abate by

Jun 4, 2004

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $2,100