Attention, San Rafael Employers: Are You Adhering To This Safety Standard?

By Bay City News Service:

California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health is cautioning employers to avoid using steam boilers that fail to meet safety standards.

Steam boilers are used for medical sterilization or parts cleaning, among other industrial uses. Using boilers that don’t meet safety standards poses a risk to workers who could die or be injured by a release of steam or an explosion.

“Employers are required to prevent potential hazards to workers, and using equipment that meets required safety standards is essential,” Christine Baker, director of the Department of Industrial Relations, said in a statement.

Baker’s department oversees Cal/OSHA.

Steam boiler failures can happen when unburned fuel unexpectedly ignites or when boiler pressure can no longer be contained because of thinning, cracking, insufficient water or scale build-up. Failures also can occur when controls for appropriate pressure, burner fuel flow or water level are defective.

“Cal/OSHA has specific regulations relating to equipment’s design and construction, inspection and operation,” Cal/OSHA chief Juliann Sum said in a statement. “Using steam boilers that are not up to code can cause an over-pressurized release of steam or an explosion.”

Failing to comply with workplace health and safety regulations can result in misdemeanor or felony charges.

A Cal/OSHA consultation service is able to help employers and employee groups improve the health and safety of their workplaces. Employers should call (800) 963-9424 for help.

(Image via Shutterstock)