INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT #492

TWO EMPLOYEES SCALDED WHILE REMOVING CIRCULATING PUMP

TWO EMPLOYEES WERE INFORMED THAT THE HOT WATER CIRCULATING PUMP FOR THE SWIMMING POOL AREA AND THE EAST END OF THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WAS MAKING UNUSUAL NOISES. EMPLOYEE #1 CHECKED IT AND TURNED IT OFF. THE PUMP WAS RESTARTED AND NO NOISE W AS HEARD. LATER THE NOISE STARTED AGAIN. IT WAS DECIDED TO REMOVE THE PUMP AND T AKE IT TO THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. THE MAIN DISCONNECT WAS SHUT OFF, AS WERE THE IN LET AND OUTLET VALVES. THE COUPLER WAS DISCONNECTED AND ALL BOLTS REMOVED FROM T HE MOUNTING FLANGE. EMPLOYEE #1 APPARENTLY THEN STRUCK THE FLANGE WITH A HAMMER. THE PUMP THEN SHOT OUT OF THE PUMP HOUSING, SPLASHING WATER AT 200 DEGREES ONTO EMPLOYEES #1 AND #2. EMPLOYEE #1 RECEIVED FIRST AND SECOND DEGREE BURNS OVER 35 % OF HIS BODY. EMPLOYEE #2 RECEIVED FIRST AND SECOND DEGREE BURNS TO HIS BACK AN D SHOULDERS. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS HOSPITALIZED, WHILE EMPLOYEE #2 WAS TREATED AND REL EASED. A PET COCK VALVE, LOCATED ON THE UPPER PUMP HOUSING, COULD HAVE RELIEVED THE PRESSURE ON THIS PUMP. NEITHER EMPLOYEE WAS AWARE THAT THIS VALVE WAS LOCATE D ON THE PUMP. THEY FAILED TO COOL DOWN THE PUMP AND RELIEVE THE PRESSURE BEFORE THEY REMOVED ALL THE MOUNTING BOLTS. BOTH EMPLOYEES HAVE BOILER LICENSES, CLASS "C".