Inspection Detail

Inspection: 306356676 - Circle W Ranch

Inspection Information - Office: Ca Fresno

Inspection Nr: 306356676

Report ID: 0950625

Date Opened: 03/03/2004

Site Address:
Circle W Ranch
29555 Wyle Ranch Rd
North Fork, CA 93643

Mailing Address:
P O Box 723, North Fork, CA 93643

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:0212

NAICS: 112111/Beef Cattle Ranching and Farming

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Health

Close Conference: 03/03/2004

Emphasis: S:Agriculture (Aship)

Case Closed: 09/13/2010

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	362098246

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations				4		4
Current Violations				3		3
Initial Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$5,745	$0	$5,745
Current Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$1,870	$0	$1,870
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	Other	342 A	07/12/2004	08/14/2004	$1,500	$5,000	$0	08/09/2004	J - ALJ Decision
2.	01002	Other	3203 A	07/12/2004	08/14/2004	$185	$185	$0	08/09/2004	W - Empr Withdrew
3.	01003	Other	3400 B	07/12/2004	08/14/2004	$0	$375	$0	08/09/2004	D - Govt Dismissed	Citation has been deleted.
4.	01004	Other	5194 E01	07/12/2004	08/14/2004	$185	$185	$0	08/09/2004	W - Empr Withdrew

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 201085032

Event: 02/09/2004

Employee Dies From Body Burn Complications

At about 4:15 p.m. on February 9, 2004, Employee #1 was burning brush piles with a five-gallon metal bucket of diesel fuel, using a propane torch. He set the fuel bucket up hill from the burning brush, and, as he was watching the brush fire burn, he noticed that the dried grass in the path of fuel bucket also caught fire. Employee #1 then rushed to retrieve the fuel bucket, but, by then, the fire already reached the bucket. When he grabbed the melting hot plastic cover of the bucket handle, he dropped the bucket and caused a splash of hot diesel fuel to ignite his clothing. He then ran up the hill shredded his burning clothes and rolled on the ground to suffocate the rest of his burning clothes. Employee #1 and his companion, not an employee of the Circle W Ranch, got into his car and drove to the North Fork Clinic and later to the Oakhurst Community Medical Center, where he was transported via helicopter to the Burn Center at UMC in Fresno, California. Employee #1 died on February 18, 2004. The Madera County Coroner's Office reported the cause of death as a bilateral bronchopneumonia due to 30% to 40%-body burns.

Keywords:burn, heat, diesel fuel tank, fire, propane torch, combustible liquid

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree	Nature	Occupation
1	306356676			Fatality	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Laborers, except construction

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Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA