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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 126478577 - Duke Power Co.
Inspection Information - Office: Sc Department Of Labor, Licensing, And Regulation
Site Address:
Duke Power Co.
Hwy 183, Oconee Nuclear Station
Seneca, SC 29679
Mailing Address:
422 S. Church St., Charlotte, NC 28210
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:4911
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Health
Close Conference: 10/31/1996
Planning Guide: Health-Manufacturing
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 01/21/1997
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 362629800 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 2 | 2 | ||||
| Current Violations | 2 | 2 | ||||
| Initial Penalty | $6,375 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $6,375 |
| Current Penalty | $2,550 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $2,550 |
| FTA Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| # | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | FTA Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 01001 | Serious | 10012 A | 11/19/1996 | 12/02/1996 | $1,800 | $4,500 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
| 2. | 01002 | Serious | 19101001 E04 | 11/19/1996 | 11/22/1996 | $750 | $1,875 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement |
Investigation Summary
A five-person crew was valving in a second stage reheater at an electric power generation station. They were slowly opening two valves to bring the reheater online. Two of the employees were stationed at one valve, and the other three were at the second valve. Two other employees were working in the immediate area, observing the reheater's drain tank levels after having adjusted an automatic valve about 30 minutes before. The drain line for the reheater ruptured downstream of the valves, releasing steam and hot water into the area. The rupture was caused by excessive pressure in the line as a result of a water hammer. The water hammer was caused by the presence of lower pressure on the downstream side of the valves than on the upstream side. This produced a back flow in the line. The operating procedure for the valves in the line during start up operations had been changed earlier in the year to eliminate water hammer that had occurred previously. However, the new changes were not incorporated into the written operating procedures being used at the time of the accident. Seven employees (all five members of the work crew plus the two other employees working in the area) received second-degree burns to multiple parts of their bodies. They were hospitalized for their injuries.
Keywords: BURN, STEAM LINE, EQUIPMENT FAILURE, LOCKOUT, RUPTURE, STEAM, ELEC UTILITY WORK, UNTRAINED
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 126478577 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Power plant operators | ||
| 2 | 126478577 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Power plant operators | ||
| 3 | 126478577 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Power plant operators | ||
| 4 | 126478577 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Power plant operators | ||
| 5 | 126478577 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Electrical and electronic technicians | ||
| 6 | 126478577 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Power plant operators | ||
| 7 | 126478577 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Electrical and electronic technicians |