OSHA Inspection: PROGRESS ENERGY, INC.

Issued

Jul 14, 2004

Abate by

Aug 9, 2004

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 serious
physical harm to
employees in that employees were exposed to:
a).A struck by hazard while using cheater bars on the hand wheel of
Limitorque
actuators that were attached to boiler condensate pump suction valves.
The actuator hand
wheel provided a manual method for unseating (opening) and closing motor
operated
boiler condensate suction valves.  The employer failed to heed
manufacturer and
employee warnings regarding safety hazards associated with the over torque
condition
that is created by using an extension tool on the Limitorque actuator hand
wheel.
b).A struck by hazard while operating (opening and closing) Limitorque
actuators
that were attached to boiler condensate pump suction valves.  The employer
failed to
ensure that manufacturer recommended regular and periodic maintenance on
the
actuators, as described in their operating manuals, was accomplished for
both the SMC
and SMB model actuators.  Routine maintenance and grease checks for both
type
actuators were recommended every eighteen (18) months at a minimum.
c).A struck by hazard while operating (opening and closing) Crane motor
operated
suction valves that were attached to boiler condensate pumps.  The
employer failed to
ensure that manufacturer recommended equalization procedures were
performed prior to
opening the valves.  When the valves were placed on line after maintenance
outages, the
equalization valves were routinely left closed.  Failure to open these
valves allowed
differential pressure across the valve disc that was greater than the
fifty
(50) psi
maximum allowed by the manufacturer.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct the hazard in
instance (a) is to follow the Limitorque operation manual recommendation
and refrain from using
an extension tool, i.e. cheater bar, on the actuator hand wheel.  For
instance (b) a feasible and
acceptable abatement method would be to follow the Limitorque maintenance
manual
recommendation and perform regular maintenance on the actuators on a
schedule that will
prevent maintenance related failures.  For instance (c) a feasible and
acceptable abatement
method would be to follow the valve manufacturer's recommendation for
opening the
equalization valves prior to attempting motorized or manual opening of the
suction valve.

Issued

Jul 14, 2004

Abate by

Aug 9, 2004

Penalty

Initial $5,000 · Current $5,000

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:
a).Steam burn hazards while operating (opening and closing) a motor
operated
suction valve.  Two (2) employees were exposed to leaking steam from the
valve while
attempting to bring the 2C BC pump back on line, on or about January 29,
2004.
b).Steam burn hazards while working in the vicinity of a pump casing leak
on BC
Pump 2C during January 2004.  The pump was leaking steam for several weeks
before
plant personnel erected barriers to keep out plant personnel.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct the hazard is
to perform regular periodic maintenance on plant systems that carry
pressurized steam.rized

Issued

Jul 14, 2004

Abate by

Aug 16, 2004

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000