Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 004 Hazard: BURNS

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 explosion hazards associated with the rupture of pressure vessels and associated piping and burns from steam and hot water in the boiler and burns from steam and boiling renderings in the pressure cookers: a)Rendering Plant - Pressure relief valves on the boiler and pressure cookers were not vented/piped to a safe location. b)Rendering Plant - The boiler and pressure cookers were not internally and externally inspected at least annually for mechanical integrity. c)Rendering Plant - Pressure Cooker #4 had been patched and welded and maintenance records were not available for the repairs. Among other methods, one feasible and useful method of abatement would be to vent relief valves to a safe location and to schedule annual inspections of pressure vessels by a competent person.