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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 119893980 - San Bernardino City, Water Department
Inspection Information - Office: San Bernardino District Office
Site Address:
San Bernardino City, Water Department
655 East 3rd Street
San Bernardino, CA 92402
Mailing Address:
Post Office Box 710, San Bernardino, CA 92402
Union Status: Union
SIC:9511
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Complaint
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: LocalGovt
Safety/Health: Health
Close Conference: 02/09/1995
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 08/18/1997
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 362231938 | ||
| Complaint | 76215979 | Yes |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 11 | |
| Current Violations | 1 | 4 | 5 | |||
| Initial Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Current Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| 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. | 01001 | Other | 5158 C 1 A | 02/09/1995 | 03/01/1995 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 03/03/1995 | Y - State Decision | |
| 2. | 02001 | Other | 5158 C 2 | 02/09/1995 | 02/14/1995 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 03/03/1995 | Y - State Decision | |
| 3. | 03001 | Willful | 5158 D 2 | 02/09/1995 | 02/14/1995 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 03/03/1995 | D - Govt Dismissed | Citation has been deleted. |
| 4. | 04001 | Other | 5158 E 1 B | 02/09/1995 | 02/14/1995 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 03/03/1995 | Y - State Decision | |
| 5. | 05001 | Willful | 5158 E 1 D | 02/09/1995 | 02/14/1995 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 03/03/1995 | D - Govt Dismissed | Citation has been deleted. |
| 6. | 06001 | Willful | 5158 E 1 D1 | 02/09/1995 | 02/14/1995 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 03/03/1995 | D - Govt Dismissed | Citation has been deleted. |
| 7. | 07001 | Willful | 5158 E 1 D2 | 02/09/1995 | 02/14/1995 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 03/03/1995 | D - Govt Dismissed | Citation has been deleted. |
| 8. | 08001 | Willful | 5158 E 1 E1 | 02/09/1995 | 02/14/1995 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 03/03/1995 | D - Govt Dismissed | Citation has been deleted. |
| 9. | 09001 | Serious | 5158 E 1 E2 | 02/09/1995 | 02/14/1995 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 03/03/1995 | D - Govt Dismissed | Citation has been deleted. |
| 10. | 10001 | Other | 5194 G 1 | 02/09/1995 | 02/14/1995 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 03/03/1995 | Y - State Decision | |
| 11. | 11001 | Serious | 5194 G 1 | 02/09/1995 | 02/14/1995 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 03/03/1995 | Y - State Decision |
Investigation Summary
At approximately 11:35 a.m. on August 23, 1994, Employee #1 entered a 8.4 ft deep by 8 ft wide geothermal vault with a 32 in. wide manhole entry to rebuild a pressure reducing valve. Before any chemical substance was introduced into the vault, the oxygen level was between 19.5 and 19.6 percent. Atmospheric testing was conducted by the EC unit and by Employee #1 using a Gastech GX-82 oxygen meter, serial #HX-13452, without an extension hose; the oxygen levels found were between 19.6 and 19.7 percent. After WD-40 and Graff-off were introduced into the vault, the oxygen level dropped to 18.9 percent. Employee #1 also noted hydrogen sulfide levels of 8 ppm. Employee #1 complained of dizziness, nausea, and difficulty in breathing. He was diagnosed as having pulmonary edema, which turned into pneumonia three weeks later. The casual factors of this accident include the employer's failure to provide employees with confined space and hazard communication training and with the material safety sheet for the product used in the confined space. The chemical constituents of WD-40 include aliphatic petroleum distillates and A-70 hydrocarbon propellant; the chemical constituents of Graff-off include isopropyl alcohol and 40 percent toluene by weight.
Keywords: RESPIRATORY, PULMONARY EDEMA, CONFINED SPACE, WORK RULES, INHALATION, DIZZINESS, CHEMICAL VAPOR, OVEREXPOSURE, UNTRAINED, CHEMICAL
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 119893980 | Hospitalized injury | Asphyxia | Occupation not reported | ||
| 2 | 119893980 | Hospitalized injury | Asphyxia | Occupation not reported |