Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: EXPLOSION

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 fire and explosion hazards resulting from instrument failure of pump emergency shutdown systems: a) Schuylkill River Tank Farm - On June 01, 2000, the high temperature and the high pressure discharge shutdown switches failed to shut down pump P-116. The pump was pumping against a dead head pressure and was overheating and smoking thereby creating a potential for a fire/explosion situation. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct the hazard is to develop and implement a routine maintenance program which would include periodic inspection, calibration and testing to maintain the on-going mechanical integrity of the pump safety systems.y