Utility fined after worker dies in explosion
December 1, 1999 2 minutes read
Utility fined after worker dies in explosion
The Occupational Safety and Health Admini-stration has cited the Tampa (FL) Electric Co. following an explosion that killed three people and sent 40 others to local hospitals. Immediately upon being served the citations, Tampa Electric along with the plant’s IBEW Local Union No. 108 signed an agreement to settle the citation.
In the agreement, Tampa Electric agreed to pay the full penalty and correct all of the cited violations.
According to Larry Falck, OSHA’s Tampa area director, two Tampa Electric employees and one contract worker died when hydrogen gas exploded in a generator that was undergoing spring maintenance procedures.
Hydrogen inadvertently released
OSHA inspectors found that hydrogen gas was released into the atmosphere by maintenance workers who were overhauling the generator. During a morning briefing, the workers had not been informed that the hydrogen used to cool the generator during normal operations had not been purged as scheduled.
Hydrogen typically is purged soon after the equipment is turned off and before disassembly begins, usually by the second or third day of the overhaul process which, on April 8, was in its 13th day. As a result of the inspection, OSHA cited Tampa Electric for four serious violations involving maintenance procedures and proposed penalties totaling $25,200. The violations covered deficiencies in several areas, including "job briefing," lockout procedures that ensure that hazardous energy is controlled during maintenance operations, and personal lockout devices to be attached and removed by individual workers involved in the maintenance detail.
"When employees work with highly volatile substances like hydrogen, the employer must take every precaution to ensure their safety," Falck says. "We encourage the company to utilize this opportunity to create a more effective safety and health program. The company can save more than just OSHA penalties if it will find and fix hazards prior to an accident or inspection. Taking proactive measures on safety and health issues can reduce workers’ compensation costs, improve employee morale, and ultimately increase company profits."
In addition to the citation items that were related to the explosion at the Gannon plant, OSHA also issued citations pertaining to a complaint inspection at Tampa Electric’s Big Bend plant. The complaint was filed after the explosion at the Gannon plant. As a result of this inspection, OSHA issued three serious and one other-than-serious violation with proposed penalties of $4,875.
The serious violations addressed hazards covering housekeeping, exposed chains and sprockets, and an inadequate emergency response plan to address chemical spills. The other-than-serious violation covered the labeling of water pipes as "nonpotable" water.
Tampa Electric has various electric generating facilities in the Tampa area where it employs more than 3,000 workers.
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