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Inspection Detail

Inspection: 301307690 - National Vinegar Company, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Houston North Area Office

 

Inspection Nr: 301307690
Report ID: 0626600
Date Opened: 04/30/1997

Site Address:
National Vinegar Company, Inc.
4115 Gillespie St.
Houston, TX 77020

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 2761, Houston, TX 77252

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:2099

NAICS: 0 

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Health

Close Conference: 05/06/1997

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 03/18/1998

Related Activity
Type Activity Nr Safety Health
Accident 360342182
Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties Serious Willful Repeat Other Unclass Total
Initial Violations 5 5
Current Violations 5 5
Initial Penalty $8,325 $0 $0 $0 $0 $8,325
Current Penalty $8,325 $0 $0 $0 $0 $8,325
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 Note
1. 01001 Serious 19100038 A02 10/09/1997 10/22/1997 $525 $525 $0 I - Informal Settlement  
2. 01002 Serious 19100106 B02 VIIIE 10/09/1997 10/22/1997 $2,100 $2,100 $0 I - Informal Settlement  
3. 01003A Serious 19100106 B02 VIIIF 10/09/1997 10/22/1997 $1,500 $1,500 $0 I - Informal Settlement  
4. 01003B Serious 19100106 F05 II 10/09/1997 10/22/1997 $0 $0 $0 I - Informal Settlement  
5. 01003C Serious 19100307 B 10/09/1997 10/22/1997 $0 $0 $0 I - Informal Settlement  
6. 01004 Serious 19100147 C04 I 10/09/1997 10/22/1997 $2,100 $2,100 $0 I - Informal Settlement  
7. 01005 Serious 19100147 C07 I 10/09/1997 10/22/1997 $2,100 $2,100 $0 I - Informal Settlement  

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 201760394
Event: 04/29/1997
One employee killed, one injured in ethanol explosion

At approximately 12:30 p.m. on April 29, 1997, Employees #1 and #2 were replacing the meter leveling gauge on the roof of standard denatured alcohol (SDA) tank #2. The 20 ft tall tank contained 6,033 gallons of ethyl alcohol, a class IB flammable liquid. They disconnected the wiring to the explosion-proof metering device and placed it on top of the tank. As they removed the metering device from the tank roof, ethanol vapors escaped and traveled along the roof of the tank because ethanol is denser than air. When the ethanol vapors reached the live wires to the metering device several feet away, they ignited and flashed back into SDA tank #2. The resulting explosion propelled Employee #1 approximately 50 yards northeast. He landed on a cement side street and died on impact. Employee #2 landed on grass approximately 10 yards northeast; he sustained a concussion and multiple injuries. Neither of the employees nor management had performed lockout/tagout procedures on the electrical wiring to the metering device that was being removed.

Keywords: MAINTENANCE, VAPOR, FLAMMABLE LIQUID, FLAMMABLE VAPORS, WORK RULES, STORAGE TANK, LOCKOUT, ETHANOL, EXPLOSION, CONCUSSION

Investigated Inspection
# Inspection Age Sex Degree of Injury Nature of Injury Occupation
1 301307690 Fatality Concussion Machinery maintenance occupations
2 301307690 Hospitalized injury Concussion Machinery maintenance occupations
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