Inspection Detail

Inspection: 300783768 - Westelectric Casting Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Inspection Nr: 300783768

Report ID: 0950642

Date Opened: 10/30/2003

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

Mailing Address:
, , 00000

Union Status: Union

SIC:3339

NAICS: 331419/Primary Smelting and Refining of Nonferrous Metal (except Copper and Aluminum)

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Safety

Close Conference: 03/15/2004

Planning Guide: Safety-Manufacturing

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 07/05/2006

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	362461105

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	5			5		10
Current Violations	5			5		10
Initial Penalty	$49,160	$0	$0	$3,250	$0	$52,410
Current Penalty	$9,450	$0	$0	$250	$0	$9,700
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	Contest	Latest Event
1.	01001	Other	3210 A	03/15/2004	04/02/2004	$125	$650	$0	04/14/2004	F - Formal Settlement
2.	01002	Other	3328 H	03/15/2004	04/02/2004	$0	$650	$0	04/14/2004	F - Formal Settlement
3.	01003	Other	6151 C01	03/15/2004	04/02/2004	$0	$650	$0	04/14/2004	F - Formal Settlement
4.	01004	Other	6151 C04	03/15/2004	04/02/2004	$125	$650	$0	04/14/2004	F - Formal Settlement
5.	01005	Other	6151 E01	03/15/2004	04/02/2004	$0	$650	$0	04/14/2004	F - Formal Settlement
6.	02001	Serious	23400023	03/15/2004	03/23/2004	$2,250	$5,850	$0	04/14/2004	F - Formal Settlement
7.	03001	Serious	3314 F	03/15/2004	03/23/2004	$2,250	$5,850	$0	04/14/2004	F - Formal Settlement
8.	04001	Serious	3328 A	03/15/2004	03/23/2004	$4,500	$24,300	$0	04/14/2004	F - Formal Settlement
9.	05001	Serious	3328 B	03/15/2004	03/23/2004	$225	$7,310	$0	04/14/2004	F - Formal Settlement
10.	06001	Serious	3328 G	03/15/2004	03/23/2004	$225	$5,850	$0	04/14/2004	F - Formal Settlement

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 201058054

Event: 10/28/2003

Employee burned by molten metal

At approximately 11:30 p.m. on October 19, 2003, Employee #1, a furnace operator with 23 years of experience, was assigned to operate a 750-kilowatt electric induction furnace manufactured by Inductotherm Corporation. At approximately 6:00 a.m., while the furnace was charged, Employee #1 noticed it had turned off. Employee #1 blew a whistle to indicate that a mechanic was needed to diagnose why the furnace had turned off. The mechanics appeared to be on a break so no one responded to the call. Employee #1 then decided to leave the area and find a mechanic himself to diagnose the problem. While Employee #1 was away from the area, the melting and molding foreman who had heard the call came to the foundry platform where the furnace was located to inquire what was happening. The foreman noticed that the furnace was off and went to the ground detector and reset the ground detector probe without first checking to determine the cause of the trip. Resetting the ground detector restored power to the furnace. At this time, Employee #1 returned to the work area and began inspecting the furnace to determine if there was a leak or any other problem with the furnace. The furnace exploded. Employee #1 and the foreman began to run from the area in different directions. As Employee #1 rushed from the foundry he tripped on a box and fell face down to the ground. Molten metal from the furnace eruption fell on Employee #1's back causing third-degree burns. Employee #1 was transferred to Beverly Hospital and then referred to Grossman Burn Center where he was treated and released 2 weeks later. The lining on the furnace had worn out and caused the ground detector to trip.

Keywords: BURN, FURNACE, MOLTEN METAL, TRIPPED

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	300783768			Hospitalized injury	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Furnace, kiln and oven operators

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