Inspection Detail

Inspection: 101072734 - Ref-Chem Corp

Inspection Information - Office: Lubbock Area Office

Inspection Nr: 101072734

Report ID: 0627400

Date Opened: 10/27/1987

Site Address:
Ref-Chem Corp
3001 S. Dixie
Odessa, TX 79766

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2588, Odessa, TX 79760

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:2813

NAICS: 0

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Health

Close Conference: 10/29/1987

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 12/20/1988

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	360153571

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	5					5
Current Violations	3					3
Initial Penalty	$4,500	$0	$0	$0	$0	$4,500
Current Penalty	$1,350	$0	$0	$0	$0	$1,350
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	FTA Penalty	Contest	Latest Event	Note
1.	01001	Serious	19100094 A05 I	01/13/1988	01/16/1988	$450	$900	$0	02/08/1988	J - ALJ Decision
2.	01002	Serious	19100094 A05 IV	01/13/1988	02/02/1988	$450	$900	$0	02/08/1988	J - ALJ Decision
3.	01003	Serious	19100094 A06	01/13/1988	01/16/1988	$450	$900	$0	02/08/1988	J - ALJ Decision
4.	01004	Serious	19100134 D03	01/13/1988	03/02/1988	$900	$900	$0	02/08/1988	J - ALJ Decision	Citation has been deleted.
5.	01005	Serious	19100244 B	01/13/1988	03/02/1988	$900	$900	$0	02/08/1988	J - ALJ Decision	Citation has been deleted.

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 14493290

Event: 10/23/1987

Employee asphyxiated by nitrogen in sandblasting hood

When Employee #1 could not obtain breathing air from the installed line, he adapted unapproved hoses with quick disconnects so he could connect a respirator for use in abrasive blasting to a gas line supplying a blasting pot. This piping was not color coded or labeled in accordance with company policy, so Employee #1 did not know he was connecting to a nitrogen line instead of compressed air. He died of asphyxia. Since nitrogen is a waste gas in an air separation plant, it is used instead of compressed air for operating pneumatic equipment.

Keywords: AIR LINE RESPIRATOR, ASPHYXIATED, PPE, ABRASIVE BLASTING, WORK RULES, INHALATION, NITROGEN, AIR LINE, SANDBLASTING, MECH MALFUNCTION

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	101072734			Fatality	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported

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