Inspection Detail

Inspection: 126054196 - Western Avenue Auto Center

Inspection Information - Office: Los Angeles District Office

Investigation Summary

At 9:30 a.m. on July 8, 1997, Employee #1 attempted to move a car scheduled for body repair work that had run out of gas. Employee #1 proceeded to fill the gas tank from a 5 gallon gasoline can by inserting a funnel into the car's gas tank. Some amount of the gasoline spilled and splattered underneath the gas tank and onto the floor. Employee #2 brought a rag and attempted to mop up the gasoline from the floor. Employee #2 then lit a match and placed it on the floor, in an attempt to further dry the remaining gasoline residue from the floor. As a result, the floor as well as the funnel that was inserted into the tank became engulfed in fire. Employee #1 then dropped the funnel, splattering the gasoline onto himself and Employee #2. Both employees became engulfed in flames and ran out of the body shop. Other coworkers in the area extinguished the fires burning Employee #1 and Employee #2 as well as the flames on the floor by using a fire extinguisher. Employee #1 sustained third degree burns on his hands, arms, back, neck, and face. Employee #2 sustained burns on his hands, legs, and back. Both employees were transported to Cedar Sinai Hospital.

Keywords: BURN, AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR, FIRE, BACK, NECK, FACE, GASOLINE, HAND, LEG