Inspection Detail
Inspection: 1702090.015 - Axis Transport, Llc
Inspection Information - Office: El Paso Area Office
Site Address:
Axis Transport, Llc
683 Interstate 20
Pecos, TX 79772
Mailing Address:
Po Box 923, Boerne, TX 78006
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:
NAICS: 484220/ Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Local
Inspection Type: Fat/Cat
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Health
Close Conference: 10/09/2023
Emphasis: P:Constr6, L:Constr6
Case Closed: 05/06/2024
Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
---|---|---|---|
Accident | 2090400 | ||
Inspection | 1704935 | Yes | |
Inspection | 1722158 | Yes |
Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initial Violations | 3 | 3 | ||||
Current Violations | 3 | 3 | ||||
Initial Penalty | $33,876 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $33,876 |
Current Penalty | $27,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $27,000 |
FTA Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
# | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | FTA Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 01001 | Serious | 19260021 B02 | 03/19/2024 | 04/15/2024 | $9,000 | $11,292 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
2. | 01002 | Serious | 19260352 I | 03/19/2024 | 04/15/2024 | $9,000 | $11,292 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
3. | 01003 | Serious | 19260501 B01 | 03/19/2024 | 04/15/2024 | $9,000 | $11,292 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement |
Investigation Summary
At 10:00 a.m. on October 7, 2023, three employees were preparing to install a male threaded pipe sleeve into a female threaded factory installed coupling on a flange to interconnect three battery tanks from the tank roof. Two days prior to welding, there was a liquid leak from one of the tanks. The supervisor was instructed by the plant manager to open the vessel to purge the mud. The supervisor instructed his employees to shut off the valves once they were installed. However, there still appeared to be fluid leaking from the tank, as stated by the plant manager. The supervisor's crew installed the valves upside down, thus leaving the valves open. This occurrence led to gas leaking into the tanks. There were three employees working on top of the tank. The supervisor did not conduct any flammable testing prior to welding. There was an explosion. During the explosion, the lid and two of the employees were thrown. Employee #1 and Employee #2 were pronounced dead at the scene. A coworker jumped over to the other tank prior to the explosion; he was rescued alive with no injuries. Only one of the three employees was utilizing fall protection at the time of the incident. The aerial lift that was being utilized had a burned and wilted basket with a missing gate. The tank that the employees were installing flanges on was missing the lid.
Keywords: Aerial Lift, Battery, Couplings, Explosion, Fall, Fall From Elevation, Fall Protection, Flammable Vapors, Flange, Gas Leak, Leak, Purging, Shut-Off Valve, Tank, Valve, Welding
# | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1702090.015 | 30 | M | Fatality | Welders and cutters | |
2 | 1702090.015 | 57 | M | Fatality |