OSHA Inspection: ASAHI KASEI BIOPROCESS AMERICA, INC.

Issued

Apr 12, 2023

Penalty

Initial $8,539 · Current $8,539

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1):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 modified prefabricated  pressure parts were installed onto a ASME Section VIII, Div. 1 pressure vessel, such that conformance with ASME Sec. VIII, Div. 1 design parameters were not met, and created struck by hazards to employees in the area during hydrostatic testing.   (a) On November 2, 2022, the employer did not ensure that pressure vessel attachments and connections installed on a pressure vessels were assembled per manufacturer specifications, exposing employees to struck-by hazards.  On November 2, 2022, an employee was performing a witnessed hydrostatic test to certify a Dynamic Axial Compression (DAC) Column S/N: 15068 as an ASME Section VIII, Div. 1 Pressure Vessel under American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section. VIII, Div. 1 standards. The vessel was pressurized to the required hydrotest pressure when a leak was noted at a fitting in the system. A Swagelok 1-inch Threaded VCO Face Seal to Automatic Tube Weld adapter, P/N 316L-16-VCO-1A, attached to the top plate of the pressure vessel at a threaded opening in the top plate had been modified by filing off the lip of the Automatic Tube Weld end by the column assembly team per employer design specifications. The leak was identified where the employer-modified Swagelok Tube end was attached to the compression fitting end of a plugged Swagelok Tube Fitting Elbow, P/N SS-16-VCO-9-1610. The employee attempted to tighten the leaking compression fitting, the fitting failed, releasing and propelling the 1-inch Swagelok Tube Fitting Elbow and attached Swagelok Plug into the air, striking the employee, resulting in serious injuries.

Issued

Apr 12, 2023

Abate by

May 15, 2023

Penalty

Initial $8,539 · Current $8,539

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures were not developed, documented, and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:  (a) On or about November 2, 2022, an employee was exposed to struck by hazards associated with a pressurized fluid vessel during servicing and troubleshooting of a right angle Swagelok connection on the 80 cm DAC MPLC Column manufactured at the facility, Serial No. 23498-001, a pressure vessel undergoing a hydrostatic pressure test in the Column Assembly Department. The column assembly technician attempting to tightening a compression fitting on a system pressurized to approximately the hydrotest pressure of 659.75 pounds per square inch (psi) was struck by the right angle Swagelok Tube Fitting Elbow, P/N SS-16-VCO-9-1610, and attached Swagelok plug, P/N SS-1610-P, when it released from the fitting installed on the top plate of the column while the employee attempted to tighten the compression fitting. The energizing device, a cart used to pressurize the water within the system and the pressurized column were not deenergized to prevent loss of containment or unexpected energization while the servicing work was performed. Previously, the employer had not developed, documented, or implemented the use of procedures for the control of potentially hazardous energy while pressurized vessels are serviced.