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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 120123294 - Usa Transport
Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office
Site Address:
Usa Transport
2101 E Pacific Coast Hwy
Wilmington, CA 90744
Mailing Address:
12191 Violet Rd, Adelanto, CA 92301
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:4953
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Complete
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Health
Close Conference: 04/04/1996
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 09/13/2010
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 361412182 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 4 | 6 | 10 | |||
| Current Violations | 4 | 6 | 10 | |||
| Initial Penalty | $7,500 | $0 | $0 | $1,885 | $0 | $9,385 |
| Current Penalty | $4,800 | $0 | $0 | $1,520 | $0 | $6,320 |
| 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 | 5157 E06 | 04/05/1996 | 05/07/1996 | $200 | $275 | $0 | 04/23/1996 | J - ALJ Decision | |
| 2. | 01002 | Other | 3203 A | 04/05/1996 | 05/07/1996 | $275 | $275 | $0 | - | ||
| 3. | 01003 | Other | 5144 A | 04/05/1996 | 05/07/1996 | $135 | $135 | $0 | - | ||
| 4. | 01004 | Other | 5144 F01 | 04/05/1996 | 05/07/1996 | $135 | $135 | $0 | - | ||
| 5. | 01005 | Other | 5157 C04 | 04/05/1996 | 05/07/1996 | $550 | $550 | $0 | - | ||
| 6. | 01006 | Other | 5194 H02 F | 04/05/1996 | 05/07/1996 | $225 | $515 | $0 | 04/23/1996 | J - ALJ Decision | |
| 7. | 02001 | Serious | 5144 C | 04/05/1996 | 04/22/1996 | $1,000 | $1,500 | $0 | 04/23/1996 | J - ALJ Decision | |
| 8. | 03001 | Serious | 5157 G01 | 04/05/1996 | 04/22/1996 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $0 | - | ||
| 9. | 04001 | Serious | 5157 D03 E | 04/05/1996 | 04/22/1996 | $1,500 | $2,000 | $0 | 04/23/1996 | J - ALJ Decision | |
| 10. | 05001 | Serious | 5157 D04 A | 04/05/1996 | 04/22/1996 | $300 | $2,000 | $0 | 04/23/1996 | J - ALJ Decision |
Investigation Summary
On January 16, 1996, Employee #1 was cleaning solid alumina catalyst from the shift converter, V-1284, unit 700, at a Texaco sulfur recovery plant. The catalyst was lying on a grating that went down the center of the vessel, dividing it into upper and lower halves. The vessel normally contained hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide gases in a 2:1 ratio. A ventilation fan attached to the vessel drew in air from the open top hatch and exhausted it through the bottom manhole. The ventilation fan had been removed so that Employee #1 could enter the bottom of the vessel to vacuum out the catalyst that had fallen through the grate. The air was not tested before or during his entry or occupancy in the bottom half of the vessel. Employee #1 completed his work and was leaving the vessel when he was overcome and collapsed. He did not remember feeling any symptoms before his collapse. Medical tests indicated that he had been exposed to sulfur dioxide, which was not screened for by the air testing equipment at the plant . After the incident, Texaco used a Drager tube to test the air in the vessel and found 2 ppm sulfur dioxide. Texaco provided the air monitoring, stand-by personnel, and entry permit system at the work site.
Keywords: MAINTENANCE, VENTILATION, CONFINED SPACE, PPE, WORK RULES, INHALATION, SULFUR, SULFUR DIOXIDE, CHEMICAL VAPOR, OVEREXPOSURE
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 120123294 | Hospitalized injury | Asphyxia | Chemical technicians |