Inspection Detail

Inspection: 102520236 - Southwest Marine, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Region 09; San Francisco

Investigation Summary

Employee #1 was arc welding in the forward ballast tank of the American Trader vessel, working approximately 68 feet from the upper deck in an enclosed space. His welding rod struck a pipeline containing hydraulic fluid, which was under approximately 600 psig at the time, and ignited a fire. Employee #1 became engulfed in flames, and sustained thermo-cutaneous burns over 80 percent of his body from which he died. The cause of the accident was the employer's permitting hot work to be performed on a surface that had not been cleared for hot work by the marine chemist.

Keywords: BURN, SHIPYARD, CONFINED SPACE, FLAMMABLE LIQUID, WORK RULES, FIRE, HYDRAULIC FLUID, WELDING, HIGH PRESSURE, ARC WELDING