Company Cited After Cylinder Explosion
Two employees were severely injured Feb. 12, 2016, when a compressed gas cylinder designed for a fire-suppression system exploded while they were attempting to fill it with compressed air from a high-pressure source.
OSHA has cited Oprandy's Fire & Safety Equipment Inc. of Middletown, N.Y., a company that sells installs and services fire extinguishers and suppression equipment, after conducting an inspection prompted by two workers' injuries in a tank explosion. The agency has cited it for seven serious safety violations.
The two employees were severely injured Feb. 12, 2016, when a compressed gas cylinder designed for a fire-suppression system exploded while they were attempting to fill it with compressed air from a high-pressure source. Investigators from the Albany Area Office found the air device's pressure exceeded the cylinder's listed pressure limit and that Oprandy's Fire & Safety Equipment failed to train the employees on the procedures needed to fill the cylinder properly, did not equip the tank and valve assembly with a pressure relief device or assess the workplace for hazards requiring the use of PPE or require personnel to use protective eyewear and footwear.
The proposed penalties are $19,774.
"Oprandy's Fire & Safety Equipment needlessly exposed its employees to a potentially fatal hazard that caused them to suffer serious injuries," said Robert Garvey, OSHA's area director for Albany. "Injuries are preventable when employers follow basic safety precautions in their industry, and train employees to recognize and prevent hazards."