OSHA Inspection: ALCON MECHANICAL PIPING, INC.

Issued

May 14, 2020

Penalty

Initial $9,446 · Current $0 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(B): The energy control procedures did not clearly and specifically outline the steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy.   On or about December 3, 2019, written procedures for isolation and blanking steam boosters lacked specific steps for isolating coke oven gas in that it did not require lines supplying water to water seal valves to be locked open.

Issued

May 14, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.147(d): The established procedure for the application of energy control (the lockout or tagout procedures) did not cover the actions listed in and was not done in sequence as required by 29 CFR 1910.147(d)(1)-(6):   On or about December 3, 2019, employees were exposed to hazardous coke oven gas during the isolation and blanking of gas lines. The employer failed to implement energy control application steps as LOTO devices were not applied to lock open the water seal valves [per 1910.147(d)(4) requirements.] As a result, the remaining applicable energy control elements, involving dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)], and verification of isolation [(d)(6)], were not implemented to protect employees from servicing hazards.    LOTO device application [(d)(4)] - Affix a lockout or tagout device to each energy isolating device;   dissipation of residual energy [(d)(5)(i)] - relieve, disconnect, restrain, and otherwise  render safe all potentially hazardous stored or residual energy;   verification of isolation [(d)(6)] - Verify that isolation and deenergization of the machine or equipment has been accomplished.

Issued

May 14, 2020

Penalty

Initial $0 · Current $0

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.1000(e): Feasible administrative or engineering controls were not determined and implemented to achieve compliance with the limits prescribed in 29 CFR 1910.1000(a) through (d):   a. On or about December 3, 2019, an employee tasked with isolating and blanking the steam booster was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 103.9 parts per million (ppm) for carbon monoxide, approximately 2.08 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 ppm. The exposure level was derived utilizing a carboxyhemoglobin calculation which utilized medical information to calculate a 15 minute exposure with zero exposure assumed for the remaining period of 465 minutes.     b. On or about December 3, 2019, an employee tasked with isolating and blanking the steam booster was exposed to an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) of 92.8 parts per million (ppm) for carbon monoxide, approximately 1.86 times the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 50 ppm. The exposure level was derived utilizing a carboxyhemoglobin calculation which utilized medical information to calculate a 15 minute exposure with zero exposure assumed for the remaining period of 465 minutes.   The employer did not ensure that employees were not exposed to carbon monoxide above the OSHA PEL of 50 ppm by means of administrative or engineering controls.