Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: STRUCK BY

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).A struck by hazard while using cheater bars on the hand wheel of Limitorque actuators that were attached to boiler condensate pump suction valves. The actuator hand wheel provided a manual method for unseating (opening) and closing motor operated boiler condensate suction valves. The employer failed to heed manufacturer and employee warnings regarding safety hazards associated with the over torque condition that is created by using an extension tool on the Limitorque actuator hand wheel. b).A struck by hazard while operating (opening and closing) Limitorque actuators that were attached to boiler condensate pump suction valves. The employer failed to ensure that manufacturer recommended regular and periodic maintenance on the actuators, as described in their operating manuals, was accomplished for both the SMC and SMB model actuators. Routine maintenance and grease checks for both type actuators were recommended every eighteen (18) months at a minimum. c).A struck by hazard while operating (opening and closing) Crane motor operated suction valves that were attached to boiler condensate pumps. The employer failed to ensure that manufacturer recommended equalization procedures were performed prior to opening the valves. When the valves were placed on line after maintenance outages, the equalization valves were routinely left closed. Failure to open these valves allowed differential pressure across the valve disc that was greater than the fifty (50) psi maximum allowed by the manufacturer. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct the hazard in instance (a) is to follow the Limitorque operation manual recommendation and refrain from using an extension tool, i.e. cheater bar, on the actuator hand wheel. For instance (b) a feasible and acceptable abatement method would be to follow the Limitorque maintenance manual recommendation and perform regular maintenance on the actuators on a schedule that will prevent maintenance related failures. For instance (c) a feasible and acceptable abatement method would be to follow the valve manufacturer's recommendation for opening the equalization valves prior to attempting motorized or manual opening of the suction valve.