OSHA Inspection: TAMPA ELECTRIC COMPANY

Issued

Apr 20, 2018

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $12,675

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 struck by hazard while working near Condenser #3 inlet manway:     a. On or about 10/26/2017, at the Big Bend power plant, employees were exposed to a struck by hazard, in that, the condenser inlet 3B manway cover was not maintained to assure that all fastening components were free form corrosion and assure the ongoing integrity of the cover.     b) On or about 10/26/2017, at the Big Bend power plant, employees were exposed to a struck by hazard, in that, condenser inlet 3A manway cover was modified by adding support brackets "stiffeners" at the back of the cover's I0 attachment brackets without conducting an engineering analysis and evaluation to assure the modification maintained the manufacturer's design and the manway cover was modified by replacing the cover's wing nuts with hex nuts without conducting an engineering analysis and evaluation to assure the modification maintained the manufacturer's design.     Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods to correct these hazards would be to:    1. Comply with the manufacturer's installation operation and maintenance of equipment and components.    2. Establish an inspection schedule and when the results of an inspection show that a change has occurred from the original physical condition of equipment, an evaluation shall be made to determine its suitability for continued use.    3. Implement inspection to assess and evaluate metal loss from pitting corrosion.    4. Comply with the manufacturer's instructions contained on engineering drawing K200/00/0732-0620 for torque and sequence when fastening the manway cover.

Issued

Apr 20, 2018

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $12,675

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.269(d)(2)(iii): Procedures were not developed, documented, and used for the control of potentially hazardous energy covered by paragraph (d) of this section:     a. On or about 10/26/2017, at the Big Bend power plant, employees were exposed to potential hazardous energies, in that, employees were allowed to use tools, such as hammers and impact wrenches in an effort to stop leaks on the Condenser #3 riser manway covers without developing and following a LOTO procedure to eliminate water pressure on the door.

Issued

Apr 20, 2018

Abate by

May 10, 2020

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $12,675

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.269(d)(2)(iv)(B): Specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy were not developed:    a) On or about October 26, 2017, at the Big Bend power plant, employees were exposed to potential hazardous energies, in that, the employer failed to ensure that the procedures for safely shutting down machinery with multiple energy sources were developed and implemented. Affected equipment includes:  the Generator Hydrogen, CO2 Purge Systems, and Hydrogen Spool piece removal process. Employees were required to work on the equipment without using clear and specific procedures that safely deenergized and shut down the equipment.

Issued

Apr 20, 2018

Abate by

May 10, 2020

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.269(d)(2)(iv)(D): Procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the requirements for testing a machine or equipment to determine and verify the effectiveness of lockout devices, tagout devices, and other energy control measures:      a. On or about 10/26/2017, at the Big Bend power plant, employees were exposed to potential hazardous energies, in that, the employer failed to ensure that lockout/tagout procedures for machinery with multiple energy sources had specific requirements for testing and verifying the effectiveness of equipment deenergizing and shutdown using the LOTO procedure. Equipment included: the Generator Hydrogen, CO2 Purge Systems / Hydrogen Spool piece, and the Unit 2 Condenser / Ball Cleaning hazardous energy control procedures. Employees were required to work on equipment with no requirement for testing or verifying energy isolation had been accomplished.

Issued

Apr 20, 2018

Abate by

May 10, 2020

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.269(d)(6)(i): Before an authorized or affected employee turns off a machine or equipment, the authorized employee did not have knowledge of the type and magnitude of the energy, the hazards of the energy to be controlled, and the method or means to control the energy.    a. On or about 10/26/2017, at the Big Bend power plant, employees were exposed to potential hazardous energies, in that, the employer failed to ensure that the energy control procedures for machinery with multiple energy sources had the type, magnitude, and hazards of the energy to be controlled included in the procedures; this equipment includes: the Generator Hydrogen, CO2 Purge Systems / Hydrogen Spool piece ,and the Unit 2 Condenser / Ball Cleaning hazardous energy control procedures. Employees were required to work on equipment with procedures that did not contain the required elements including the type, magnitude, and hazards of the energy(s) to be controlled.

Issued

Apr 20, 2018

Abate by

May 2, 2018

Penalty

Initial $12,675 · Current $12,675

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.269(d)(2)(v): The employer did not conduct a periodic inspection of the energy control procedure at least annually to ensure that the procedure and the provisions of paragraph (d) of this section were being followed:   a. On or about 10/26/2017, at the Big Bend power plant, employees were exposed to potential hazardous energies, in that, the employer failed to conduct the required periodic inspection of the energy control procedures for machinery with multiple energy sources which includes, but is not limited to, the Generator Hydrogen and CO2 Purge Systems / Hydrogen Spool piece and the Unit 2 Condenser / Ball Cleaning hazardous energy control procedures. Employees were required to work on equipment with procedures that had not been audited periodically as required by the standard so that any deviations or inadequacies would be discovered and corrected.