Inspection: 310416144 - Pacific Coast Producers, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Ca Sacramento
Nr: 310416144Report ID:0950621Open Date: 09/04/2007
Pacific Coast Producers, Inc.
1376 Lemen Ave
Woodland, CA 95776		 Union Status: Union
SIC: 2033/Canned Fruits, Vegetables, Preserves, Jams, and Jellies
NAICS: 311421/Fruit and Vegetable Canning
Mailing: 631 N Cluff Ave, Lodi, CA 95240
Inspection Type:Accident
Scope:PartialAdvanced Notice:N
Ownership:Private
Safety/Health:HealthClose Conference:11/08/2007
Close Case:09/09/2010
Related Activity:TypeIDSafetyHealth
 Accident362335796    

Violation Summary
Serious Willful Repeat Other Unclass Total
Initial Violations 2

3
5
Current Violations 1

4
5
Initial Penalty 45000

2805
47805
Current Penalty 18000

3000
21000
FTA Amount






Violation Items
# ID Type Standard Issuance Abate Curr$ Init$ Fta$ Contest LastEvent
  1. 01001 Other 5141 B 12/20/2007 01/07/2008 $750 $935 $0 01/14/2008 F - Formal Settlement
  2. 01002 Other 5155 E01 12/20/2007 01/14/2008 $750 $935 $0 01/14/2008 F - Formal Settlement
  3. 01003 Other 5194 H02 12/20/2007 01/14/2008 $750 $935 $0 01/14/2008 F - Formal Settlement
  4. 02001 Other 3328 G 12/20/2007 01/14/2008 $750 $22500 $0 01/14/2008 F - Formal Settlement
  5. 03001 Serious 5141 A 12/20/2007 01/22/2008 $18000 $22500 $0 01/14/2008 F - Formal Settlement

Accident Investigation Summary
Summary Nr: 202486031Event: 09/03/2007Thirty Nine Employees Are Exposed To Chlorine Dioxide Gas
On September 3, 2007, thirty nine employees reported severe respiratory symptoms from exposure to chlorine dioxide gas, resulting in thirty five of those going to the hospital and two being admitted overnight. Pacific Coast Producers Inc. is a food processing company that operates fruit canneries. Flumes carry the tomatoes from the trucks into the sort area, and this flume water was disinfected with chlorine dioxide. The chlorine dioxide was generated on site, and dispensed into the flume water. A demand probe in the south round tank fouled with organic matter, causing the system to continue to pump chlorine dioxide into the flume water. Levels increased as the sensor fouled, causing it to off-gas into the sort area. Twenty two injured employees were on the third shift, nine on the second shift, and eight employees on the first shift. The two hospitalized employees, Employee #1 and Employee #2 were both on the third shift, where concentrations of chlorine dioxide were reportedly the highest. At approximately 4:30 to 5:00 a.m., all employees working on the sort lines who had not already requested first aid were moved to first aid and the sort area was evacuated. The chlorine dioxide generating system was shut down, and Emergency Services was called. The Woodland Fire Department responded with several trucks and ambulances. They triaged thirty nine employees, with thirty five going to various regional hospitals or clinics, and two being held overnight. Employee #1 and Employee #2 were taken to Woodland Memorial Hospital for about thirty six hours for treatment of pulmonary edema and bronchial inflammation. They had not returned to work before the season ended and all the seasonal staff were laid off. The other employees suffered from respiratory tract irritation and returned to work on their next shift.
Keywords: chemical burn, chlorine dioxide, inhalation, pulmonary edema, agriculture, packing house, respiratory tract
Inspection Degree Nature Occupation
1 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
2 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
3 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
4 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
5 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
6 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
7 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
8 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
9 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
10 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
11 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
12 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
13 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
14 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
15 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
16 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
17 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
18 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
19 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
20 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Occupation not reported
21 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Occupation not reported
22 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Occupation not reported
23 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Occupation not reported
24 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Occupation not reported
25 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Occupation not reported
26 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Occupation not reported
27 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Occupation not reported
28 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Occupation not reported
29 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Occupation not reported
30 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
31 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
32 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
33 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
34 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
35 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
36 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
37 310416144 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
38 310416144 Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products
39 310416144 Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Graders and sorters, agricultural products