OSHA finds Salem plant failed to protect men who died ($46,800 for Boiler rupture)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/05/15/osha_finds_salem_plant_failed_to_protect_men_who_died/

Boiler rupture may bring fines

By Erin Ailworth
Globe Staff / May 15, 2008

The owners of Salem Harbor Power Station failed to protect employees from a faulty boiler that killed three men when it ruptured, according to federal safety officials who found several safety violations at the plant that could lead to more than $45,000 in fines.
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Dominion Energy New England officials said the utility plans to "vigorously contest" the accusation that it does not keep its workers safe, a spokesman said.

An Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation found 10 "serious" safety violations at Dominion's Salem plant. Among the problems: failing to enter or inspect for nine years the specific area where the explosion occurred.

The Nov. 6, 2007, accident, which occurred when the plant's Unit 3 boiler tubes ruptured, killed engineer Phillip Robinson, mechanic Mark Mansfield, and rookie Mathew Indeglia after they were enveloped in a cloud of steam that neared 600 degrees.

OSHA, which began investigating the plant following the explosion, is proposing that Dominion pay $46,800 in fines for the safety problems - most of which plant officials say have been fixed. Dominion has 15 business days to contest the fines.

"The company must initiate and maintain effective safeguards to identify and eliminate such hazards, both to protect employees and to prevent future leaks, ruptures, or explosions," Rosemarie Ohar, OSHA's acting area director in Methuen, said in a prepared statement yesterday. "Proper inspection and maintenance are critical to detecting potentially dangerous conditions."

FULL story at link.

[DS1]

1. What a horrible way to go

I hope they didn't survive the initial blast.

45,000 seems like really cheap life, to me. :mad: