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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 303682348 - Valley Telephone Cooperative Inc.
Inspection Information - Office: Corpus Christi Area Office
Site Address:
Valley Telephone Cooperative Inc.
Hwy 359 & Wellhausen 7 Mi N. 3 Mi.E.
Oilton, TX 78271
Mailing Address:
480 S. 6th St., Raymondville, TX 78580
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:1623
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 01/18/2001
Emphasis: S:Construction Fatalities
Case Closed: 04/29/2002
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 100210988 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||
| Current Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Initial Penalty | $3,500 | $49,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $52,500 |
| Current Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $7,000 | $7,000 |
| 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 | 02/27/2001 | 03/09/2001 | $0 | $3,500 | $0 | 03/22/2001 | F - Formal Settlement | Citation has been deleted. |
| 2. | 02001 | Unclass | 19260651 B01 | 02/27/2001 | 03/05/2001 | $7,000 | $49,000 | $0 | 03/22/2001 | F - Formal Settlement |
Investigation Summary
On November 30, 2000, Employee #1 was operating a Rock Wheel attached to front-end loader Number 760. The employee was tasked with digging with the Rock Wheel to a depth of two feet. The Rock Wheel struck a 20-inch (outside diameter) by 0.25-in. thick utility pipe about 20 inches below the surface. The gas line exploded with a massive force blowing the operator more than 200 feet from the point of impact. Employee #1 was killed. The investigation revealed that the employer had attempted to have the company that had installed the gas pipeline identify where the gas line was located. The employer began digging cautiously before the accident and before the pipeline was located.
Keywords: EXCAVATION, FRONT END LOADER, TELECOM WORK, MACHINIST, WORK RULES, CONSTRUCTION, NATURAL GAS, EXPLOSION, STRUCK BY, UNTRAINED
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 303682348 | Fatality | Other | Grader, dozer and scraper operators |