Inspection Detail

Inspection: 120211214 - Chevron Pipeline, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Fresno District Office

Investigation Summary

A Chevron Pipeline Co. crew including Employee #1 was assigned to remove a sea curtain type oil boom from the California Aqueduct in the Huron/Coolinga area. They had waited two to three hours for a crane. The foreman then made the decision not to wait any longer and decided to remove the boom using some rope and the CPL flatbed truck. The boom was to be pulled around a gate post, which was used as an anchor point for the operation. The ropes used were the primary boom safety line, the secondary boom safety line, and a piece of rope that had been found on the job site. It is believed that the primary boom safety line and secondary boom safety line were black and orange in color and made of polypropylene. The other rope, described as a white rope, was believed to be made of nylon. Four crew members on the east side of the aqueduct were positioned at various points to assist in pulling the boom by hand. The secondary safety line was under tension while the boom was being pulled. The line made up of the primary boom line and the white rope was slack. Employee #1 was holding the slack line with his left hand on the white rope. The secondary boom line parted and unraveled/broke, causing immediate tension on the white rope. Either this rope had been wrapped around Employee #1's left hand or his fingers became entangled as the rope became taut. Employee #1's fingers were partially amputated.

Keywords: AMPUTATED, ROPE, FINGER, WORK RULES, OIL WELL DRILLING, CAUGHT BY, ENTANGLED