Vessel Opening gone bad (Zero Energy State not obtained)

At about 2:45 a.m. on March 13, 2001, Employee #1 and Employee #2, two operators, and Employee #3, a maintenance mechanic, were assigned the task of cleaning out a waste vessel, KD 502A. The three employees were removing the flange to the pot, and had removed several of the 44 bolts holding the flange, when the pressure in the vessel was violently released, killing all three of the employees.

Violations/PenaltiesSeriousWillfulRepeatOtherUnclassTotal
Initial Violations3216
Current Violations1124
Initial Penalty$16,000$125,000$0$0$0$141,000
Current Penalty$4,000$0$0$0$115,000$119,000
FTA Penalty$0$0$0$0$0$0
#Citation IDCitaton TypeStandard CitedIssuance DateAbatement Due DateCurrent PenaltyInitial PenaltyFTA PenaltyContestLatest EventNote
1.01001Serious19100106 I03 II09/11/200109/21/2001$0$7,000$0F – Formal SettlementCitation has been deleted.
2.01002Serious19100133 A0109/11/200109/21/2001$0$2,000$0F – Formal SettlementCitation has been deleted.
3.01003Serious19100147 C07 IA09/11/200101/05/2002$4,000$7,000$0F – Formal Settlement 
4.02001Unclass19100147 C06 I09/11/200110/05/2002$50,000$55,000$0F – Formal Settlement 
5.02002AUnclass19100147 D09/11/200110/05/2002$65,000$70,000$0F – Formal Settlement 
6.02002BUnclass19100147 C04 IID09/11/200110/05/2002$0$0$0F – Formal Settlement 
7.03001Other19100147 C04 IIC09/11/200109/21/2001$0$0$0 

Source: https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=303384887

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