40 incidents & 1 update (4/28/13)

2013 Fatality Tracker

STORY of INTEREST

DPW Workers Fired, Suspended in Co-Worker’s Death Investigation (Department of Public Works & Safety disciplined four employees involved in an attempted cover-up of an accident that killed a DPW worker – an Administrator and Supervisor have been terminated and 2 supervisors have been suspended for five days – a Solid Waste employee was killed on April 8, 2013 – the four employees in question are accused of falsifying records related to his death – an investigation conducted by DPR, OHSA, and Metro Police revealed the administrator altered a training document for the deceased, and asked the the two supervisors to help him sign and backdate vehicle maintenance logs – DPW Director says falsifying the records was senseless because they would not have affected the course of events that led to the accident and Welch’s death)

INDUSTRIAL

LATHE GUARDING ACCIDENT Worker Airlifted After ‘Severe’ Industrial Accident (a worker, 43, was pulled into a lathe when his clothing snagged in the machinery – he was airlifted to a University Medical Center after he was dragged through the machine – he suffered a compound fracture to one of his arms, a “severe” back injury and a head injury)

Worker at Nissan DIES in Apparent Accident on Thursday (an employee of a supplier died in a fatal accident at its vehicle assembly plant around 10:45 a.m. at the System 1 paint plant – the victim was an employee of a supplier – the employee was killed when a large electrical panel fell while it was being moved – the company makes paint systems)

CONFINED SPACE FATALITY ELECTRICAL EXPLOSION in VAULT Coroner Identifies SCE Worker Killed In Electrical Accident (worker, 38, was the victim of an “electrical explosion and fire” in an underground electrical vault – he was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:03 a.m. following the accident that occurred just minutes earlier and left three other employees injured – he was an employee at the utility for 11 years – the underground electrical vault is no bigger than 14′ x 14′ with a cement top and manhole in the center – he and another employee were in the vault during the incident – 2 workers outside the vault attempted to rescue the other workers – the three survivors all suffered minor injuries due to smoke inhalation and were transported to local hospitals but have since been released)

MANLIFT FATALITY Man killed in Oklahoma industrial accident was from Springfield (a worker, 57, died in an accident at a grain elevator – he had been working inside a lift basket when a co-worker found him – it appears he was pinned by a beam – he was pronounced dead at the scene)

LOTO/GUARDING Maintenance worker hurt in accident (a maintenance worker, 49, was in critical condition in the hospital after an accident – he sustained a head injury when he was reportedly caught in a machine he was working on at a food manufacturing centre)

EXPLOSION 3 burned critically when Alabama barges explode (a huge blaze erupted when two fuel barges exploded, leaving three people with critical burns and forcing the evacuation of crew from a nearby cruise ship – the cause of the explosions remained under investigation, but investigators believe it was likely from a spark caused by a crew cleaning the barges – the barges were empty and being cleaned at the facility – barges had been carrying a liquid called natural gasoline, meaning there were no additives in the fuel)

ELECTRICAL SEPTA Worker Burned On Top Of Train In West Trenton (an inspector, 49, on top of a train parked at a station was shocked and burned as he worked – he suffered 3rd degree burns in what witnesses describe as a fireball – the train had to be de-energized as rescue crews worked carefully to work from a high angle to remove the man from the top of the train – took an hour to remove the man and airlift him to the Medical Center’s burn unit)

LINEMEN ARC FLASH Flash explosion on pylon burns two workers, cuts power (two men are recovering from burns after the power pylon they were working on exploded – the employees were elevated in a cherry picker when the pylon exploded about 3pm – the men appeared to have been injured in a flash explosion that left them both with burns to the face and neck – “It appears they had all the right equipment because their eyes were fine – you could see where they had their glasses on – they had quite severe burns to their faces and necks and top of the shoulders, but otherwise they should be fine)

REFINERY TANK FIRE Massive explosion rocks Marathon Detroit Refinery (a tank containing diesel fuel has exploded during maintenance work at a refinery, forcing a mandatory evacuation order for a nearby area – one employee was injured in the blast – the incident occurred during a maintenance check – the small fire was extinguished quickly and the worker had minor injuries)

CONFINED SPACE FATALITY – EXPLOSION Worker killed in explosion at Dexter Water Treatment Plant (one man was killed and another injured in the explosion of a tank containing sewer waste – the victims were working on the tank at the Utilities Department when the blast occurred – firefighters believe both men were inside the tank attempting to disassemble it when methane gas exploded – the force of the explosion blew one of the victims to the roof of a nearby building)

EXPLOSION FATALITY Worker injured in Beaumont refinery fire dies (a contract worker critically hurt in a fire at a refinery has died – he was among seven contract workers initially hospitalized with burn-related injuries after the April 17 fire at the refinery – five other workers were treated and released – four workers remained hospitalized – two are in critical condition and the other two patients are listed as fair -officials believe the fire broke out when hydrocarbons released from a heat exchange ignited – the fire at a processing unit happened when the equipment was down for maintenance)

SHRINK WRAP FATALITY Growers Ice worker dies in accident (an employee of a produce-cooling company was killed after a piece of equipment fell on him – the victim, a man in his early 30s, was working on a large piece of machinery applying plastic covering to pallets of strawberries – a portion of a pallet broke off and became lodged, causing the machine to stop – the victim failed to press the emergency-shutoff switch before dislodging the wood, causing a large counterweight to fall, killing him instantly)

ELECTROCUTION and FATAL FALL Worker dies in electrical-shock fall off Glendale roof (a worker died after he was electrically shocked and fell off a roof around 10:50 a.m. at a metal fabrication business – the man had been an employee at the business for 15 years and was fixing an air conditioning unit on the roof when he fell – he hit live electric wires next to the building and the wires fell to the ground with him – the roof was about 20 feet from the ground – there were several coworkers in the area but they could not reach the man because he was still in contact with the wires, as well as several pieces of metal)

CONFINED SPACE FATALITY Ethanol Plant Worker Dies in Grain Silo Mishap (a worker, 27, has died after being buried by corn in a grain silo at an Ethanol plant – he was working at the plant when a co-worker noticed he was not answering his radio device – managers figured he was probably trapped in the silo, so they began rescue efforts – he was found about 12 hours later – the silo was filled at less than a quarter of its total capacity – he was a seven-year employee of the ethanol plant)

EXPLOSION McCook explosion evacuates warehouse (an explosion has rocked a grinding company and forced workers to evacuate – firefighters did stop the fire before it spread through the building – there was no official word if anyone was hurt, but a worker said everyone got out safely – investigators were checking into what caused the blast)

HOTWORK on DRUM EXPLOSION Worker severely burned after torch touches off explosion in Kingman (a worker, 53, was severely burned after a cutting torch he was using touched off an explosion at a Tire Service business – he was using a cutting torch on scrap metal near a barrel when the barrel exploded, throwing the man back 20 feet and the barrel 60 feet in the air – he was flown to a Hospital – he suffered burns over 70 percent of his body)

WELDER ELECTROCUTED Welder apparently electrocuted at metro Phoenix plant (a man doing welding work on the rooftop of a manufacturing plant is dead of an apparent electrocution – the man was badly burned and fell 20 feet to the ground after he somehow touched live wires around 11:20 a.m.  – he was pronounced dead at the scene)

HOTWORK DUST EXPLOSION Welder hurt in grain silo blast (a man has suffered burns to his face, after an explosion inside a grain silo just before 2:00 pm – the man was welding inside the silo when there was an explosion – he is in a stable condition in the hospital)

HOTWORK Small Fire at Duluth Manufacturer (a small fire broke out at a Manufacturing plant around 6 p.m. – when crews arrived a small fire was found between the walls near where a cutting torch was used – crews cut three holes into the wall and pulled out any insulation that was on fire)

Vermont wood pellet plant suffers minor damage in explosion, fire (a wood pellet plant has shut down temporarily following a fire that was set off by an explosion in a sawdust hopper – a fire was reported at about 4 a.m. after the explosion blew off the hopper’s protective plating, allowing the fire to spread – employees emptied fire extinguishers and a suppression hose on the flames and called the fire department before fleeing the building – nobody was injured)

AMMONIA Man burnt in Durban harbour ammonia leak (one person was burnt and 13 others were treated for ammonia inhalation after a gas leak – a man was rushed to hospital after his wrist was burnt by the chemical – he was treated and released a few hours later, along with the others -the leak was detected at the fresh produce terminal storeroom at about 10am – thirteen employees have suffered exposure and minor respiratory irritations, while one other has contracted chemical burns – the leak was caused by a faulty valve)

UPDATE on AMMONIA FATALITY Beef company to pay $450,000 for fatal ammonia leak (company has agreed to pay a $450,000 fine to settle charges stemming from a fatal anhydrous ammonia release at its now-closed plant – the leak killed one worker and permanently disabled another in 2007 – they were trapped after 1,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia leaked – company had ordered workers to return to a production area before ammonia levels were safe)

CHLORINE LEAK EPA building evacuated after chlorine gas leak (a chlorine gas leak prompted an evacuation of employees and contractors from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s campus at Research Triangle Park – the leak occurred during decontamination research – thirty-one contractors and five federal employees were evacuated from a building at about 11:30 a.m. – all employees were accounted for, and no one was hurt – the leak happened during decontamination research as part of the agency’s homeland security research efforts)

CONSTRUCTION

FATAL COLLAPSE Worker killed in West Bottoms building collapse (a worker, 68, was killed in a construction accident – he died when a part of the building he was working on collapsed on him – the crew was in the process of demolishing the building – early reports indicate the man was a member of the construction company)

Coroner: Worker killed by falling drainage pipe (a worker, 60, died from impact with a falling drainage pipe in a construction accident – officials did not say what exactly led to his death)

BACKHOE CRUSHING FATALITY Authorities release name of China industrial accident victim (workers were working on a track hoe and it pivoted around – when it swiveled, it caught the worker, 27, between the upper part that swivels and the piping, which caused a crushing injury – he was declared dead – an autopsy has been ordered and the apparent cause of death was from a crushed chest)

ROCK SCALING FATALITIES Two Caltrans Workers Killed (2 workers, 40 & 50, are dead and a third is in the hospital after an on the job accident – accident happened around 12:30 p.m. during a rock scaling operation – the third worker, 50, was flown to a hospital where he was listed in stable condition – unclear what happened)

CRANE and ELECTRICAL Worker shocked & burned at construction site (a worker was seriously burned at a construction project – he was on a lift removing air conditioning units from a building when it is believed a piece of equipment made contact with a high-voltage line, shocking him and setting him on fire – a man was driving past the scene and noticed the worker – the lift was 25-30 feet in the air – he was able to climb the lift, extinguish the fire and and then lower the lift – the worker appears to be burned over 70 percent of his body and was transported to a Medical Center in critical condition)

PROPANE EXPLOSION Shipping container blast at B.C. construction site injures 1 (it appears a propane tank being stored with a barbecue inside a storage container was the cause of the blast at the construction site – windows of nearby apartments and parked vehicles were cracked and shattered – one man was taken to hospital and a number of car and apartment windows were blown out following the large explosion – the blast occurred just before 6:30 a.m. when a construction worker was opening up a job site – the worker opened a shipping container being used for storage, and the propane tank being stored with a barbecue inside the container somehow ignited – the worker, 49, who opened the container is now in hospital with minor injuries)

CRUSHED during UNLOADING Worker killed at Vegas road site identified (a worker, 60, was crushed to death by a drainage pipe at a road-building project – the worker was struck by pipe during an unloading operation – officials say he was pronounced dead at the scene)

CRANE Crane Collapse Knocks Out Power to Downtown Branson (workers were trying to lift a 14,000 pound refrigeration unit off a roof – something caused the crane to lose the unit, which fell a few feet and the crane’s boom landed on some power lines – accident knocked out power to about ten city blocks)

MISCELLANEOUS

Estate worker dies in freak accident (an estate worker, 42, died on the spot when the blades of the punning machine used to trim tea leaves dislodged from the machine and struck his abdomen injuring him seriously – at 7am, when he was trimming leaves, the blades from the punning machine suddenly dislodged from the machine and hit his abdomen – he suffered deep wounds where part of his intestines was also injured – the machine which runs on diesel, is operated by wearing it across your body – he was taken to a private hospital but was declared brought dead)

FORKLIFT FATALITY Sea-Tac Airport worker dies after being hurt in crash (an airport worker injured in an industrial accident has died – the man was an employee of an Aviation service company – he died after he was taken to a Medical Center for treatment of multiple injuries – the man in his 40s was driving a piece of equipment in a cargo area when he crashed into a stationary forklift – the man was working alone and it was several minutes before another worker noticed he had crashed – surveillance video showed the driver “slump in his seat” before the crash, which might indicate he suffered some sort of medical problem)

ARC FLASH Worker injured by electrical accident at Harlingen High School South (authorities are investigating an electrical accident that left at least one worker injured at a school just after 4:15 p.m. – three maintenance workers were working on an electrical breaker following a power outage at the school – the three were testing the breakers when one of them exploded – one of the crew members suffered slight burns to the face and was taken to a local hospital)

FORKLIFT Worker Escapes Serious Injury in Forklift Accident (a tree worker escaped serious injury when part of an operating forklift injured his leg while he was inside a dumpster directing placement of split tree segments – the worker was transferred to the hospital by EMS for observation and treatment)

LAWNMOWER FATALITY County worker killed by lawn mower identified (a maintenance worker, 48, was killed in a lawn-mowing accident – he had worked for the county for a decade – accident occurred at the County Industrial Park – a passing motorist saw an overturned riding mower and stopped to investigate – the motorist called 911 when he found the worker unresponsive – EMTs found he was dead at the scene)

UNLOADING Patio door shipment falls on Bradford man (a skid of patio doors slid on top of and trapped a 40-year-old employee of a retail outlet at about 7:25 p.m. – emergency crews arrived at a retail store – police found the victim near the shipping and receiving area of the business -vParamedic workers treated the male victim who incurred serious injuries to his legs, foot and a laceration to the head – the jaws of life were used to free the victim by the fire department and he was transported to hospital)

TRAIN FATALITY MTA Worker Struck by Subway Train in Queens (a track worker , 58, was struck by a train and killed – he was signal maintainer and had been part of an overnight work detail – it was not immediately clear how the accident occurred – he was struck at 3:21 a.m.)

LOTO FATALITY Man Killed in Elevator Accident at St. Pete Beach Resort (a worker, 45, working in an elevator shaft was killed when the elevator crushed him – he had been working on the elevator with another man for about 40 minutes – they were cleaning oil from the shaft, when the elevator fell on top of him – the other worker was not hurt – the elevator was locked by hotel maintenance prior to the men beginning their work, according to investigators)

ELECTROCUTION Tree worker fatally electrocuted in Jackson Township (a man, 32, was fatally electrocuted while trimming a tree – he was up in a tree with a rope when the branch he was cutting fell against a power line as the branch was touching his stomach – as his partner watched from the ground, electricity passed through his stomach, right arm and thumb – he was killed and his body hung suspended on the rope)

1 person taken to Columbus hospital after anhydrous ammonia leak (one person had to be taken to a Regional Hospital following an anhydrous ammonia leak – shortly before 9:30 p.m., the anhydrous ammonia was being applied as fertilizer to a farm field – the application suddenly stopped when the worker discovered a hose had burst on his tank)

What’s New @ SAFTENG.net

2013 Video of the Week #17 (Wind can create hazards)

2013 Photo of the Week #17 (Ladder)

Compliance Tip: Electrical Safety Related Work Practices

West, TX Fertilizer… a lesson in “process safety” and the “retail facility” exemption?

Aerial video of Mobile, AL barge explosion damage

Ammonium Nitrate Sensitization (explaining one West, TX scenario)

Safety Alert – Care and Use of Ammonia Gas Cylinders

Increased Civil Penalties Take Effect for Those Who

Knowingly Violate Federal Hazmat Laws and Regulations

HIGH CHALLENGE Warehousing: Ammonium Nitrate as a typical case study (NFPA)

MSHA Safety Alert – Electrical Solenoid Safety

Animation of Fire at Chevron’s Richmond Refinery, August 6, 2012

Compliance Tip: Bloodborne Pathogen Training

EPA RMP citations @ Wheat Milling operation ($4K)

2013 Photo of the Week #16 (Ladder/Scaffolding)

2013 Video of the Week #16 (Backhoe Loading)

How could the TX fertilizer plant be a Program 2 RMP?

TX Fertilizer Plant Explosion analysis (videos/photos)

Hydrogen Fluoride Study, Report to Congress Section 112(n)(6) Clean Air Act As Amended

Sprinkler System’s OS&Y Valves

OSHA issues WILLFUL and EGREGIOUS citations for machine guarding