OSHA Inspection: THE GARDEN WHOLESALE, INC.

Issued

Oct 17, 2017

Penalty

Initial $8,873 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): 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 being struck by fragmentation pieces in the event of an explosive rupture of ammonia refrigeration pressure vessels and inhalation hazards from rapidly escaping anhydrous ammonia vapor:  a. On or about August 11, 2017, at the ammonia engine room, the pressure relief valve (PRV) protecting the oil pot pressured vessel for the accumulator was corroded and would have not operated as the intended design.  The employer could not produce any documentation regarding the installation date and/or inspection of PRV, did not have evidence of testing and/or calibration and the PRV installation dates had not been marked or recorded as required by the Provisions of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Rules, Section VIII, Division 1 and the American National Standards Institute/International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration, ANSI/IIAR-2 Equipment, Design, and Installation of Ammonia Mechanical Refrigerating Systems.  Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means of abatement include but are not limited to the following:   1.  Installation of new and documented pressure relief valves 2.  Contact original manufacturers for duplicate Form U-1 for each valve, and determine service life.