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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 309843001 - Packaging Corp Of America
Inspection Information - Office: Appleton Area Office
Site Address:
Packaging Corp Of America
N9090 Cty Rd E
Tomahawk, WI 54487
Mailing Address:
, , 00000
Union Status: Union
SIC:2621
NAICS: 322121/Paper (except Newsprint) Mills
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 11/18/2008
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 05/05/2009
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 100651157 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 4 | 2 | 6 | |||
| Current Violations | 4 | 2 | 6 | |||
| Initial Penalty | $22,500 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $22,500 |
| Current Penalty | $22,500 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $22,500 |
| 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 | 19100252 A02 IIIB | 01/21/2009 | 02/08/2009 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $0 | - | ||
| 2. | 01002 | Serious | 19100252 A02 VIC | 01/21/2009 | 02/23/2009 | $7,000 | $7,000 | $0 | - | ||
| 3. | 01003 | Serious | 19100252 A02 XIVB | 01/21/2009 | 02/23/2009 | $7,000 | $7,000 | $0 | - | ||
| 4. | 01004 | Serious | 19100252 A03 II | 01/21/2009 | 02/23/2009 | $7,000 | $7,000 | $0 | - | ||
| 5. | 02001 | Other | 19100252 A02 XIIIC | 01/21/2009 | 02/23/2009 | $0 | $0 | $0 | - | ||
| 6. | 02002 | Other | 19101026 L02 I | 01/21/2009 | 02/23/2009 | $0 | $0 | $0 | - |
Investigation Summary
On July 29, 2008, Employee #1, manager, Employee #2, marketing estimator, and Employee #3, welder, were on top of an 80 ft high by 40 ft diameter outdoor tank. The tank primarily contained 88 percent reused mill water, white water, and 12 percent recycled corrugated material that had been mechanically reduced to fiber. It was believed hydrogen and methane gas were generated by anaerobic bacteria subsisting on the starches released into the recycled mill water while the used corrugated material was reduced to fiber. Employee #1 did not conduct air monitoring inside the tank before welding on the exterior of the tank. He was repairing a damaged flange connection to a piece of equipment by welding two temporary clamps to the flange to hold the piece of equipment in place. It was believed the welding on the flange exterior ignited a flammable gas mixture in the headspace of the tank and it exploded. Employee #1 and Employee #2 were killed instantly when they fell 80 ft. Employee #3 died shortly after the explosion due to his injuries. A coworker near the tank received minor injuries, which were not recorded.
Keywords: FLAMMABLE VAPORS, STRUCK AGAINST, WELDER, GAS, EXPLOSION, FALL, STRUCK BY, TANK
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 309843001 | Fatality | Fracture | Supervisors, production occupations | ||
| 2 | 309843001 | Fatality | Fracture | Machinery maintenance occupations | ||
| 3 | 309843001 | Fatality | Fracture | Machinery maintenance occupations |