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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 116183526 - Ferrellgas, Inc.
Inspection Information - Office: Denver Area Office
Site Address:
Ferrellgas, Inc.
2236 Aspen Glow Trail
Frisco, CO 80443
Mailing Address:
, , 00000
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:5984
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Health
Close Conference: 07/19/1995
Emphasis: L:Conspace
Case Closed: 04/17/1996
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 361892938 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 2 | 2 | ||||
| Current Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Initial Penalty | $10,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $10,000 |
| Current Penalty | $5,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $5,000 |
| FTA Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| # | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | FTA Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 01001A | Serious | 19101000 A02 | 07/20/1995 | 07/25/1995 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $0 | 08/14/1995 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 2. | 01001B | Serious | 19101000 E | 07/20/1995 | 08/09/1995 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 08/14/1995 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 3. | 01002A | Serious | 19101200 H03 II | 07/20/1995 | 08/09/1995 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $0 | 08/14/1995 | F - Formal Settlement | Citation has been deleted. |
| 4. | 01002B | Serious | 19101200 H03 III | 07/20/1995 | 08/09/1995 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 08/14/1995 | F - Formal Settlement | Citation has been deleted. |
Investigation Summary
At approximately 6:15 p.m. on Friday, February 24, 1995, Employee #1 of Ferrellgas, Inc., a liquefied petroleum gas (lpg) or propane delivery company in Frisco, CO, was making a routine delivery of liquefied petroleum gas in Silverthorne, CO. A rather large pile of snow had been plowed, presumably from the driveway, on top of the underground propane tank and the tank's filling valve. Employee #1 proceeded to dig a cylindrical hole in the snow big enough for his body to enter, approximately two ft diameter and four ft deep at a slight downward sloping angle off the horizontal plane. By design, this hole became a confined area with little or no outside air movement. Apparently, Employee #1 crawled head first into this hole to connect the hose from the delivery truck to the tank's filling valve, since the delivery truck indicated that the tank had been filled. Near the tank's filling valve is a "spitter" or bleeder valve that releases gas and liquid propane as the tank reaches 89 percent capacity. Normally, Employee #1 would lift a valve cover and reach down at about arm's length to disconnect the hose from the valve. In this case, propane gas accumulated in the snow hole and displaced oxygen, creating an atmosphere that was immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH). Employee #1 was discovered unconscious by a neighbor, with most of his body except his feet and ankles in the snow hole. His truck was still running. Employee #1 died at the scene of asphyxiation resulting from inhalation of propane. The employer had not provided adequate training on confined-space entry.
Keywords: DELIVERY WORK, OXYGEN DEFICIENCY, ASPHYXIATED, CONFINED SPACE, IDLH, WORK RULES, INHALATION, LP GAS, PROPANE, UNTRAINED
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 116183526 | Fatality | Asphyxia | Occupation not reported |