National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors
TheNational Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors(Columbus, OH) announced that the total number of accidents involving boilers and unfired pressure vessels increased dramatically last year. A comparison of the Year 2000 report with the 1999 report indicated a 24% increase in the total number of accidents, from 2,163 in 1999 to 2,686 in 2000. More than 87% of 2000's reported incidents were directly attributable to human error (i.e., operator error or poor maintenance, low-water conditions, improper repair or installation, and faulty design or fabrication). The report also indicated a 33% decrease in the number of fatalities, with 14 deaths in 2000 compared with 21 deaths in 1999.