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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 2298438 - Koch Refining Company
Inspection Information - Office: Corpus Christi Area Office
Site Address:
Koch Refining Company
Suntide Rd
Corpus Christi, TX 78410
Mailing Address:
Po Box 2608, Corpus Christi, TX 78403
Union Status: Union
SIC:2911
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Unprog Rel
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Health
Close Conference: 07/24/1985
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 08/06/1985
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inspection | 2298412 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Current Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Initial Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Current Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| 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 | Other | 19100020 G02 | 07/30/1985 | 08/01/1985 | $0 | $0 | $0 | - |
Investigation Summary
A PETROCHEMICAL REFINERY WAS UNDERGOING TURNAROUND. A CONTRACTOR CREW HAD BEEN ASSIGNED THE JOB OF SANDBLASTING THE INSIDE SURFACES OF A REACTOR VESSEL (CONFINED SPACE). ALTHOUGH UNWRITTEN COMPANY POLICY CALLED FOR THE USE OF AIR COMPRESSORS FOR SUPPLYING RESPIRATOR AIR, THIS CREW, WITH THE SUPERVISOR'S KNOWLEDGE, HAD PREVIOUSLY USED PLANT AIR TO SUPPLY BREATHING AIR. THE CREW MISTAKENLY HOOKED UP AN AIR FILTER TO AN UNLABELED NITROGEN LINE (ONLY THE SHUTOFF VALVE WAS LABELED) USED BY THE REFINEREY FOR PURGING CONFINED SPACES. PLANT NITROGEN LINES AND AIR LINES WERE IDENTICAL AND BOTH HAVE CROW'S FOOT COUPLINGS COMPATIBLE WITH THE COUPLING ON THE AIR FILTER. EMPLOYEE #1 CLIMBED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE VESSEL, PLACED THE SANDBLAST RESPIRATOR HOOD ON HIS HEAD AND BEGAN SANDBLASTING. HE WAS ASPHYXIATED WITHIN FIVE MINUTE'S TIME. ATTEMPTS TO REVIVE EMPLOYEE # WITH OXYGEN FAILED.
Keywords: OXYGEN DEFICIENCY, AIR LINE RESPIRATOR, ASPHYXIATED, WORK RULES, SANDBLASTING, CONFINED SPACE, NITROGEN
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2298438 | Occupation Not Listed |