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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 302571146 - Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.
Inspection Information - Office: Houston North Area Office
Site Address:
Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.
5503 West Baker Road
Baytown, TX 77520
Mailing Address:
, , 00000
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:2813
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Unprog Rel
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 11/04/1999
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 04/30/2001
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 360922207 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 8 | 8 | ||||
| Current Violations | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||
| Initial Penalty | $50,400 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $50,400 |
| Current Penalty | $6,300 | $0 | $0 | $2,000 | $0 | $8,300 |
| 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 | 19100146 C02 | 02/18/2000 | 02/22/2000 | $6,300 | $6,300 | $0 | 02/29/2000 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 2. | 01002 | Serious | 19100146 C07 III | 02/18/2000 | 02/22/2000 | $6,300 | $6,300 | $0 | 02/29/2000 | F - Formal Settlement | Citation has been deleted. |
| 3. | 01003 | Serious | 19100146 C08 II | 02/18/2000 | 02/22/2000 | $6,300 | $6,300 | $0 | 02/29/2000 | F - Formal Settlement | Citation has been deleted. |
| 4. | 01004 | Serious | 19100146 C09 III | 02/18/2000 | 02/22/2000 | $6,300 | $6,300 | $0 | 02/29/2000 | F - Formal Settlement | Citation has been deleted. |
| 5. | 01005 | Other | 19100146 D03 | 02/18/2000 | 02/22/2000 | $1,000 | $6,300 | $0 | 02/29/2000 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 6. | 01006 | Serious | 19100146 D05 V | 02/18/2000 | 02/22/2000 | $6,300 | $6,300 | $0 | 02/29/2000 | F - Formal Settlement | Citation has been deleted. |
| 7. | 01007 | Serious | 19100146 D09 | 02/18/2000 | 02/22/2000 | $6,300 | $6,300 | $0 | 02/29/2000 | F - Formal Settlement | Citation has been deleted. |
| 8. | 01008 | Other | 19100146 G01 | 02/18/2000 | 02/22/2000 | $1,000 | $6,300 | $0 | 02/29/2000 | F - Formal Settlement |
Investigation Summary
At approximately 1:00 p.m. on October 27, 1999, two instrument technicians were replacing a thermal coupling inside a cold box. One employee went to the control room and requested an oxygen monitor, and was told there was one in the safety room. He unplugged the monitor and walked out the door with it. He turned it on and believed it was an automatic monitor because it was reading 20.9 percent oxygen. However, he failed to turn on the pump of the monitor. He got to the cold box and inserted the probe into the space and obtained a reading of 20.3 percent oxygen. He moved the probe to a different location and continued to read 20.3 percent oxygen in the space. With both readings, he failed to turn the pump and the readings were, therefore, inaccurate. Employee #1 descended into the cold box using a portable step ladder. The other employee then went to ensure the nitrogen purge valve was turned off. When he came back, he saw Employee #1 on the ladder with his head stuck inside the cold box, slumped over with his hands to the side and his body was shaking and quivering. Other employees helped to pull Employee #1 from the cold box. He was flown to Herman Hospital and pronounced dead due to asphyxiation.
Keywords: OXYGEN, ASPHYXIATED, CONFINED SPACE, LADDER, TEST EQUIPMENT
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 302571146 | Fatality | Asphyxia | Technicians, n.e.c. |