Inspection Detail

Inspection: 125915132 - Big West Of California Llc

Inspection Information - Office: Labor Enforcement Task Force (Letf) Unit - Central

Investigation Summary

At approximately 8:30 p.m. on May 9, 2007, Employee #1 and a coworker were conducting a cleaning operation on unit Number 30 vessel Number v304 prior to opening the vessels. The cleaning operation consisted of connecting a utility steam line to the top of the vessel to allow steam to cascade down vessel walls to remove excess oil waste material. The steam condensate and waste oil were to be drained off through the vessel's bottom 6-in. suction line which had been disconnected at the feed pump to act as the vessel's drain discharge opening. During the cleaning operation the 6-in.drain line became plugged and both employees went to the location of the plug. The 6-in. drain line was equipped with 2 basket type strainers installed approximately 10 ft from vessel Number v304. During the investigation the coworker removed the top lid from the south strainer thus creating another discharge opening in the drain line which posed a hazard due the opening's vertical location. The coworker opened a valve upstream of the strainer and, as Employee #1 was walking away from the open strainer, the plug dislodged in the pipe spraying a stream of steam condensate and oil waste from the opened south strainer approximately 8 ft vertically. Employee #1 was drenched from the release and suffered extensive second-degree and third-degree burns to his ears, neck and upper back. Employee #1 was transported to the hospital for treatment and was hospitalized.

Keywords: BURN, HEAT, CLEANING, EAR, TORSO, STEAM, NECK