Inspection Detail

Note: The following inspection has not been indicated as closed. OSHA citation items will be posted 30 (thirty) days after the employer receives the citation(s), except in cases of significant public interest. Posted citation items reflect any amendments to citations that are the result of a prompt settlement, which OSHA encourages. Employers and employee representatives will continue to receive copies of the citation(s) upon issuance.

Inspection: 1555285.015 - G & B Farm Labor Contracting Llc

Inspection Information - Office: Redding District Office

Investigation Summary

At 8:15 a.m. on September 17, 2021, an employee working as a mechanic for a farm labor contractor was mowing grass in an orchard. The mower quit so he took it to the shop. A coworker began diagnosing the mower taking the gas line off to clear any clogs or debris. The coworker filled a small water bottle with gas and began cleaning the gas line. The coworker then placed the bottle on the table. The employer's almond shaker head had been damaged during almond harvest. The shaker was in the maintenance shop with the head sitting on a wooden box. The coworker worried the box would not hold the weight of the head, so he told the employee to build a metal sawhorse and change the engine oil in the shaker. The employee began removing the engine oil from the shaker. As oil was draining, he gathered metal for the sawhorse. After cutting the metal he started welding the legs to the sawhorse. As he welded the legs, sparks were spraying onto the gas bottle. The employee was wearing a welding helmet but no gloves during welding. He did not know the gas bottle was sitting four feet away when he heard a noise like an explosion. He lifted his hood and saw the gas bottle on fire. He slapped the bottle away, pushing it off the table when gas spewed out the top and doused his left hand. The bottle fell to the ground landing next to the shaker. The employee thought the shaker tire caught fire, so he panicked and kicked the bottle outside the shop. Gas splashed his face and neck, and he used his sweatshirt to put out the fire. The bottle was still burning so he used water to put it out. The employee called a coworker in the office who was also his daughter. She took him to the hospital, where his throat began to close. He was immediately transferred to a nearby burn center and hospitalized to treat first and second degree burns to his face, neck and hand. He was discharged from the burn center on October 1, 2021, and had to return every two weeks for evaluation and additional treatment.

Keywords: Agriculture, Agriculture Machinery/Vehicle, Burn, Container, Engineering Controls, Face, Farm, Farm Machinery, Farm worker, Fire, Flammable Liquid, Gas, Gas Can, Glove, Hand, Ignite, Ignition, Incorrect Equipment, Injury Illness Prevention Program, Lack of Engineering Controls, Lawn Mower, Maintenance, Malfunction, Mech Malfunction, Mechanic, Neck, PPE, Spark, Staffing Agency, Temporary, Temporary Employment Agency, Temporary Worker, Unsafe Position, Welding, Wrong Equipment