Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1591722.015 - Total Clean, Llc

Inspection Information - Office: Chicago South Area Office

Investigation Summary

At 5:35 a.m. on December 6, 2021, an employee was beginning the process of washing a tank trailer of residual product. The employee gained access to the lid on the tank dome by climbing the ladder affixed to the trailer and then crawling atop the tank. The employee used a tool to strike the lid to facilitate opening it prior to releasing residual pressure inside the tank. The lid abruptly swung open and struck the employee in face. When he was struck, the employee was pushed off the tank and landed on the concrete floor. The employee incurred multiple injuries including severe brain damage, broken facial bones, and fractured skull, ribs, and clavicle from both being struck by the lid and the fall. When the employee was discovered by coworkers, they called for an ambulance to transport him to a local medical center. The employee was subsequently transferred to a regional medical center where he was treated and remained hospitalized until January 11, 2022. On January 11, 2022, the employee was transferred to a specialty facility for inpatient physical and occupational rehabilitation. On February 14, 2022, the employee experienced cardiac arrest during therapy and died.

Keywords: Abrasion, Air Pressure, Back, Blunt force, Blunt force trauma, Brain, Broken Bone, Cardiac Arrest, Cardiovasc System, Chest, Clavicle, Collarbone, Contusion, Dislocated, Face, Fall, Fall From Elevation, Fall Protection, Fracture, Head, Heart, Heart Attack, High Pressure, Insufficient Supervision, Ladder, Motor Vehicle, Multi-employer Worksite, Multiemployer, Physical Therapy, Pressure Release, Pressure Vessel, Rehabilitation, Residual , Rib, Shoulder Bone, Skull, Struck Against, Struck By, Supervision, Tank, Tank Cleaning, Tank Truck, Work Surface