PRCS fatality – Tanker Truck (oxygen-deficiency during cleaning)

For those who believe entering a PRCS would not happen when the Oxygen level is measured at 19.5% (IDLH for O2 Deficiency)…

November 22, 2022, @ 1:00 p.m., an employee from a local chemical company was cleaning the inside of a tanker trailer. The employee was required to enter the tank and wash out the tank with soap and water. Before entry, the oxygen level in the tank was 19.5%. The employee entered the tank and began his cleaning process. An attendant monitored the employee in the tanker but briefly stepped away to get another coworker to replace him.

Upon return, the employee was discovered unconscious in the tank. The attendant and a supervisor attempted to rescue the employee but were unable to do so. The employees called emergency services, and the first responders removed the employee but were unable to revive them. The employee died due to asphyxiation.

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	5			2		7
Current Violations	5			2		7
Initial Penalty	$14,064	$0	$0	$3,725	$0	$17,789
Current Penalty	$14,064	$0	$0	$3,725	$0	$17,789
FTA Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

Violation Items
#	Citation ID	Citaton Type	Standard Cited	Issuance Date	Abatement Due Date	Current Penalty	Initial Penalty	Latest Event
1.	01001	Serious	19100030 A02	05/19/2023	06/05/2023	$0	$0	Z – Issued
2.	01002	Serious	19100134 E01	05/19/2023	06/05/2023	$4,688	$4,688	Z – Issued
3.	01003	Serious	19100134 F02	05/19/2023	06/05/2023	$4,688	$4,688	Z – Issued
4.	01004	Serious	19100146 H01	05/19/2023	06/05/2023	$2,679	$2,679	Z – Issued
5.	01005	Serious	19101200 H01	05/19/2023	06/05/2023	$2,009	$2,009	Z – Issued
6.	02001	Other	19040039 A01	05/19/2023	06/05/2023	$3,349	$3,349	Z – Issued
7.	02002	Other	19100134 C02 I	05/19/2023	06/05/2023	$376	$376	Z – Issued

CLICK HERE for the Case File

Related Posts