Inspection Detail

Inspection: 126084318 - Danco

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 8:00 p.m. on January 31, 2002, Employee #1 was removing the remaining 18 in of solution by scooping it out with a 5-gallon plastic bucket. Employee #1 was leaning over the edge of the tank trying to scoop up the solution and as his feet slipped, he fell into the tank head first. Employee #1 sustained first and second degree burns over 50 percent of his body as when he fell into the hot nickel acetate solution. The chemical solution itself, nickel acetate and water, is not corrosive according to the MSDS. However, the temperature of the solution was heated to about 160 degree F. Employee #1 and a coworker were instructed by the production manager from the day shift to transfer solution from number 18 tank to number 48 in the tank room. The tank is measured 48 in. deep and 32 in. high. The number 18 tank is a square tank measured 40 in. by 40 in. It was determined that using a 5-gallon bucket to scoop up solution from the tank is a common work practice. Employee #1 learned most of the work procedures from a coworker he took over the foreman position a year and a half ago. A work instruction for the tank room safety submitted by the employer was discussed with Employee #1 during the interview, and it was determined he had never seen this instruction before the accident.

Keywords: BURN, SLIP, FALL, TANK, HOT WATER