OSHA Inspection: ALSTOM CARIBE INC

Issued

Mar 26, 2007

Abate by

Mar 29, 2007

Penalty

Initial $3,500 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 6(a) of the Puerto Rico Occupational Safety and Health Act:  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:
Seccion 6(a) de la Ley de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo de Puerto Rico:
El patrono no
proveyo empleo y un sitio de empleo libre de riesgos reconocidos que esten
causando o que
puedan causar muerte o dano fisico a los empleados, por cuanto empleados
estaban expuestos
a:
At the Combined Cycle of San Juan Power Authority Central, located at the
Central
Mercado street, corner 28, lot 28, Portuary Zone, San Juan, a valve (JFW
Valve, 1000
# Port Ball Valve), was connected to a pipe system, installed to a boiler,
to conduct a
hydrostatic test. This test is done to certify boilers which consists of
filling the boiler
with water and then apply pressure with a pump, to assure there are no
leaks in the
boiler's system. On the 14 of november of 2006, the employees of Alstom
Caribe Inc.,
were performing a hydrostatic  test in the unit number six (#6), when the
valve exploted,
causing the death of an employee. The procedure of the pressure test was
to reach 2516
psi, but exploted when it reached 2100 psi. The specifications of the
valve indicated that
it could resist or sustained a maximun of 1000 psi. The employer did not
assure that the
equipment used was the adecuate one, because the valve installed could
only endure 1000
psi and the pressure at which the valve was submited was of 2516 psi.
Besides, the
model used to installed the pipe system indicated to utilize a Gate Valve
and not  a Ball
Valve. Also, did not assure the capability of the employees to recognized
the
valve to be
installed and if it would endure or sustained the pressure to be applied,
and know the
difference between a Gate Valve and a Ball Valve. Also, the presence of an
Authorized
Inspector during the test was taken for granted, specified in Section 1,
Part PG 90 of
ASME, also contemplated in their own procedure. This employer is dedicated
to boilers
installation and has knowledge of procedure to follow when conducting
hydrostatic test.
Hazard: Failure of equipment.
Among other correction methods, some feasible and acceptable methods to
correct this
hazard are use the correct valve and to train the employees.
En el Proyecto Ciclo Combinado de San Juan Central de la AEE, localizado
en la calle
Mercado Central esquina 28 lote 28, Zona Portuaria, San Juan, exploto una
valvula (JFW
Valve, 1000# Port Ball Valve), que estaba conectada a un sistema de
tuberias,
instalado
a una caldera, para realizar una prueba hidrostatica. Esta prueba se
realiza para certificar
calderas y consiste en llenar la caldera de agua para luego aplicarle
presion con una
bomba, para asegurase de que no haya filtraciones por los tubos de la
caldera. El dia 14
de noviembre de 2006 los empleados de Alstom Caribe Inc., estaban
realizando una
prueba hidrostatica en la unidad #6, cuando exploto la valvula,
ocasionandole la muerte
a un empleado. Segun el procedimiento de dicha prueba la presion iba a ser
llevada hasta
las 2516 psi, pero exploto cuando iba por las 2100 psi. Las
especificaciones de la valvula
indicaban que la misma soportaba un maximo de 1000 psi. El patrono no se
aseguro queel equipo que se utilizo fuera el adecuado, ya que la valvula
instalada soportaba 1000 psi
y la presion a la cual iba a ser sometida era de 2516 psi. Ademas, el
modelo que
utilizaron para instalar  el sistema de tuberia indicaba que se utilizara
una "Gate Valve"
y utilizaron una "Ball Valve". Tampoco se aseguro que los empleados fueran
capaces
de
reconocer que la valvula que instalaron, soportara la presion que le iban
a aplicar y que
pudieran diferenciar entre una "Gate Valve" y una "Ball Valve". Ademas, no
requirio
que estuviera presente un Inspector Autorizado, tal como especifica la
Seccion 1, Parte
PG 90 del ASME y lo especificaba su propio procedimiento. Este patrono se
dedica a
la instalacion de calderas y tiene conocimiento de cual es le
procedimiento a seguir para
realizar la prueba hidrostatica.
Riesgo: Fallo del equipo.
Entre otros metodos de correccion, varios metodos factibles y aceptables
para corregir
este riesgo son usar la valvula correcta y adiestrar a los empleados.