Inspection Detail

Inspection: 126084334 - Westelectric Casting Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Inspection Nr: 126084334

Report ID: 0950642

Date Opened: 12/18/2001

Site Address:
Westelectric Casting Inc
2040 Camfield Ave
Commerce, CA 90040

Mailing Address:
, , 00000

Union Status: Union

SIC:3325

NAICS: 331513/Steel Foundries (except Investment)

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Safety

Close Conference: 02/26/2002

Planning Guide: Safety-Manufacturing

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 04/09/2005

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	101050896

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	4			6		10
Current Violations	4			6		10
Initial Penalty	$29,025	$0	$0	$3,725	$0	$32,750
Current Penalty	$22,725	$0	$0	$750	$0	$23,475
FTA Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

Violation Items
#	Citation ID	Citaton Type	Standard Cited	Issuance Date	Abatement Due Date	Current Penalty	Initial Penalty	FTA Penalty	Latest Event
1.	01001	Other	461 A	02/26/2002	04/30/2002	$250	$325	$0	I - Informal Settlement
2.	01002	Other	23400022 C	02/26/2002	04/30/2002	$125	$160	$0	I - Informal Settlement
3.	01003	Other	3203 A07	02/26/2002	04/30/2002	$0	$810	$0	I - Informal Settlement
4.	01004	Other	3314 F	02/26/2002	04/30/2002	$125	$810	$0	I - Informal Settlement
5.	01005	Other	3314 H	02/26/2002	04/30/2002	$0	$810	$0	I - Informal Settlement
6.	01006	Other	25400003	02/26/2002	04/30/2002	$250	$810	$0	I - Informal Settlement
7.	02001	Serious	3578 G	02/26/2002	04/08/2002	$2,250	$2,925	$0	I - Informal Settlement
8.	03001	Serious	4845 B	02/26/2002	04/08/2002	$2,250	$2,925	$0	I - Informal Settlement
9.	04001	Serious	23200001 A	02/26/2002	04/08/2002	$225	$2,925	$0	I - Informal Settlement
10.	05001	Serious	23200002 A	02/26/2002	04/08/2002	$18,000	$20,250	$0	I - Informal Settlement

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 201055977

Event: 12/18/2001

Employee Injured In Explosion

At approximately 3:30 a.m. on December 18, 2001, Employee #1, a maintenance mechanic, was servicing a blower disconnect with the lead electrician. The blower, used as a dust collecting agent, was reported not in working condition. Employee # 1, accompanied by a coworker, responded to the service call and began trouble shooting the blower's disconnect to see if current was flowing into the disconnect. The blower disconnect was located on an elevated platform and Employee #1 had to kneel in order to check the current. Employee #1 connected one probe of multi-meter to the box (ground) and the other probe to the terminal wire of the blower disconnect. An arcing was then caused by the contacts and created an explosion that blew Employee #1 backward and caused him to land on his back. This disconnect was for a 75-horsepower blower wired as three-phase and 440 volts. The company has developed a general lockout procedure in 1991 and each maintenance personnel had been issued an individual lock, however, the lead electrician did not implement the procedure because that would have taken a lot longer to trouble shoot. Both Employee#1 and the coworker were not adequately trained by the company to perform maintenance duty as electricians; nevertheless, they were assigned to perform the duty as licensed electrician. Neither Employee #1 nor the coworker was wearing insulated gloves or any other protective gears on their bodies to prevent them from inadvertent contact with a live part. In addition, no written procedure was provided by the employer to emphasize work techniques and hazards involved in working on energized equipment. The direct supervisor was not present at the time of the accident to determine whether it was necessary to work on the blower disconnect live. Employee #1 sustained bilateral third-degree burns on his hands as a result of the electrical explosion. Employee #1 was hospitalized.

Keywords: BURN, MAINTENANCE, GLOVE, LOCKOUT, EXPLOSION, ELECTRICAL FAULT, UNTRAINED, HAND

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	126084334			Hospitalized injury	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Helpers, mechanics and repairers

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