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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 124041880 - Beta Steel Corp
Inspection Information - Office: Indiana Department Of Labor
Site Address:
Beta Steel Corp
6600 U S Highway 12
Portage, IN 46368
Mailing Address:
, , 00000
Union Status: Union
SIC:3325
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 09/24/1996
Planning Guide: Safety-Manufacturing
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 02/05/1999
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 361309677 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||
| Current Violations | 3 | 3 | ||||
| Initial Penalty | $8,000 | $56,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $64,000 |
| Current Penalty | $64,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $64,000 |
| 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 | 19100147 C01 | 09/25/1996 | 10/13/1996 | $4,000 | $4,000 | $0 | 10/23/1996 | J - ALJ Decision | |
| 2. | 01001B | Serious | 19100147 C04 I | 09/25/1996 | 10/13/1996 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 10/23/1996 | J - ALJ Decision | |
| 3. | 01002 | Serious | 19100147 D02 | 09/25/1996 | 10/13/1996 | $4,000 | $4,000 | $0 | 10/23/1996 | - | |
| 4. | 02001 | Serious | 2200080101 | 09/25/1996 | 10/13/1996 | $56,000 | $56,000 | $0 | 10/23/1996 | J - ALJ Decision |
Investigation Summary
At approximately 7:08 a.m. on March 27, 1996, a 20,000-liter descaling accumulator tank violently ruptured and exploded. Employees #1 through #3 were killed. Employees #4 through #13 were injured, and Employees #4 and #5 sustained injuries that required hospitalization. At least two additional coworkers also sustained injuries in the explosion. The 20,000-liter tank was kept at a pressure of between 1,900 and 2,250 psi.
Keywords: STORAGE TANK, RUPTURE, EXPLOSION, HIGH PRESSURE, TANK, PRESSURE RELEASE
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 124041880 | Non Hospitalized injury | Fracture | Occupation not reported | ||
| 2 | 124041880 | Non Hospitalized injury | Cut/Laceration | Machine operators, not specified | ||
| 3 | 124041880 | Non Hospitalized injury | Other | Occupation not reported | ||
| 4 | 124041880 | Non Hospitalized injury | Hearing Loss | Misc. metal,plastic,stone&glass-working mach. op's | ||
| 5 | 124041880 | Non Hospitalized injury | Strain/Sprain | Misc. metal,plastic,stone&glass-working mach. op's | ||
| 6 | 124041880 | Non Hospitalized injury | Heat Exhaustion | Occupation not reported | ||
| 7 | 124041880 | Non Hospitalized injury | Hearing Loss | Misc. metal,plastic,stone&glass-working mach. op's | ||
| 8 | 124041880 | Non Hospitalized injury | Hearing Loss | General office clerks | ||
| 9 | 124041880 | Non Hospitalized injury | Hearing Loss | Misc. metal,plastic,stone&glass-working mach. op's | ||
| 10 | 124041880 | Fatality | Other | Miscellaneous plant and system operators | ||
| 11 | 124041880 | Fatality | Other | Machine operators, not specified | ||
| 12 | 124041880 | Fatality | Other | Machine operators, not specified | ||
| 13 | 124041880 | Hospitalized injury | Cancer | Machine operators, not specified | ||
| 14 | 124041880 | Hospitalized injury | Fracture | Machine operators, not specified | ||
| 15 | 124041880 | Non Hospitalized injury | Hearing Loss | Misc. metal,plastic,stone&glass-working mach. op's |