Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002 Hazard:

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 employee(s) in that employees were exposed to recognized hazards including, but not limited to, burn or struck by injuries from the over-pressurization of a pressure vessel: The employer is failing to protect employees from impact and thermal hazards as a result of pressure vessel rupture due to over pressurization. The condition was most recently observed at 222 Russell Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri where the employer is failing to ensure pressure relief valves are set at or below the maximum allowable working pressure of the vessels in which they are installed. Incorrectly sized safety relief valves will fail to prevent a vessel overpressure situation due to the set point being above the maximum allowable working pressure of the vessel it is supposed to protect. In this instance, the Semi-Closed Receiver, National Board Number 8367 and serial number 979076, contained approximately 510 gallons of hot water at a temperature of approximately 330�Fahrenheit and steam at a pressure of approximately 100 pounds per square inch grade and a maximum allowable working pressure of 150 pounds per square inch was equipped with a Watts Figure 31 safety relief valve, model number 31HGA and serial number 99011089-1, with a 200 pounds per square inch set pressure for release. The installed safety relief valve exceeded the maximum allowable pressure of the vessel by 50 pounds per square inch. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to assure pressure vessels are equipped with an appropriately designed relief valves with a set point at or below the maximum allowable working pressure of the respective vessel. The installation should conform to nationally recognized standards or codes such as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Section VIII  Division 1, Pressure Vessels - 1968 edition, Subsection A  General Requirements, Part UG-133(a).