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Utility cited for safety violations
By ALEX LEARY © St. Petersburg Times, published May 15, 2001 CRYSTAL RIVER -- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Florida Power Corp. with four violations at one of its fly ash silos. The federal regulatory agency, which proposed fines totaling $12,375, said insufficient guardrails on platforms could result in employees falling 50 feet. Florida Power, a subsidiary of the newly formed Progress Energy, is contesting two of the alleged violations, and a spokesman, Mac Harris, said the other issues have been resolved. An OSHA official in Tampa declined to discuss the case because it is still open. The union representing many of the power plant employees could not be reached. Fly ash is the byproduct of coal-fueled energy production. It is sent through pipes to the silo, where it is trucked away and used to make concrete. Specifically, OSHA drew attention to a walking surface that consisted of three pipes that were 111/2 inches apart. The opening exposed employees to the hazard of falling into pipes or to the ground 50 feet below. In that same location, there were insufficient guardrails, a report stated. Two of the violations deal with this issue. Harris disputed the guardrail allegation, saying the "structural material" was not intended to serve as a guardrail. Similarly, he said, the pipes were never supposed to be a walkway. But because employees have been using them, the company this spring built a wider platform with guardrails under the pipes. Harris said the issue was identified three days before the OHSA inspection Jan. 12. On another platform outside the silo, a rope was being used as a handrail, the report said. Harris said the platform has been improved and steel guardrails have been installed on both sides. This is not the first time in recent years that Florida Power has been under OSHA scrutiny. A 1999 inspection of the company's nuclear power plant uncovered many instances of inadequate guardrails and toe stops. Harris on Monday attributed the deficiencies to the original design of the power complex, which was built between the late 1960s and early 1980s. Florida Power has spent $5-million in the past three years addressing the platforms, Harris said, and that program will continue under the new ownership. "Progress Energy has a very strong safety culture."
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