Back in June of 2021, a 1.5 million gallon water tank exploded just as a contractor began to perform hot work on it. Now most people would think a water tank would not have explosive properties; thus, the workers, nor the deceased contractor with 16 years experience, did not sample the atmosphere within the tank. The explosion sent the massive tank 70′ into the air. But Methane gas can be entrained in the deep well water within this system and the gas will separate from the water and reside in the head-space of these water tanks. This is what caused the explosion. Failure to test the atmosphere of the head space of the tank was said to have been a “required practice” but was never done by the city worker(s) or the contract worker.
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 3 | 3 | |||
| Current Violations | 2 | 2 | |||
| Initial Penalty | $75,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $75,000 |
| Current Penalty | $36,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $36,000 |
| # | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 01001 | Serious | 3203(A)(4) – Injury and Illness Prevention Program; (4) Include procedures for identifying and evaluating work place hazards including scheduled periodic inspections to identify unsafe conditions and work practices. Inspections shall be made to identify and evaluate hazards: | 12/21/2021 | $0 | $25,000 | 07/15/2022 | O – Administrative Law Judge Order | Citation has been deleted. |
| 2. | 02001 | Serious | 3203(A)(6) – (6) Include methods and/or procedures for correcting unsafe or unhealthy conditions, work practices and work procedures in a timely manner based on the severity of the hazard: | 12/21/2021 | $18,000 | $25,000 | 07/15/2022 | O – Administrative Law Judge Order | |
| 3. | 03001 | Serious | Citation Type | 12/21/2021 | $18,000 | $25,000 | 07/15/2022 | O – Administrative Law Judge Order |
Source: https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=1557133.015