Employee #1 was working for a firm that, as a subcontractor, performed maintenance on commercial food service equipment. He was in the kitchen area of a single-story restaurant, attempting to locate the source of a refrigerant leak in an ice cream storage dipping cabinet. Employee #1 connected a cylinder containing pressurized nitrogen to the dipping cabinet’s refrigeration system via a hose without using a pressure-reducing device, such as a pressure regulator or pressure relief valve.
The cylinder’s internal pressure of approximately 2,200 psig was considerably more than the dipping cabinet’s maximum test pressure of approximately 150 psig.
This disparity overpressurized the dipping cabinet’s refrigeration system and caused it to explode.
The upper part of the compressor broke off and struck Employee #1 in the head, killing him.
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 2 | 2 | 4 | |||
| Current Violations | 2 | 2 | 4 | |||
| Initial Penalty | $2,100 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $2,100 |
| Current Penalty | $1,365 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,365 |
| # | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | Contest | Latest Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 01001 | Serious | 19100101 B | 06/04/2007 | 06/17/2007 | $683 | $1,500 | I – Informal Settlement | |
| 2. | 01002A | Serious | 19101200 E01 | 06/04/2007 | 06/17/2007 | $682 | $600 | I – Informal Settlement | |
| 3. | 01002B | Serious | 19101200 G01 | 06/04/2007 | 06/17/2007 | $0 | $0 | I – Informal Settlement | |
| 4. | 01002C | Serious | 19101200 H01 | 06/04/2007 | 06/17/2007 | $0 | $0 | I – Informal Settlement | |
| 5. | 02001 | Other | 19100132 D02 | 06/04/2007 | 06/17/2007 | $0 | $0 | I – Informal Settlement | |
| 6. | 02002 | Other | 19100132 F01 I | 06/04/2007 | 06/17/2007 | $0 | $0 | I – Informal Settlement |
Source: https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=310715214