Inspection Detail
Inspection: 315763870 - Ws Packaging Group, Inc.
Inspection Information - Office: Erie Area Office
Site Address:
Ws Packaging Group, Inc.
1642 Debence Drive
Franklin, PA 16323
Mailing Address:
, , 00000
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:2759
NAICS: 323112/Commercial Flexographic Printing
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 03/30/2012
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 06/11/2012
Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
---|---|---|---|
Accident | 100380898 | ||
Referral | 200387751 | Yes |
Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initial Violations | 4 | 4 | ||||
Current Violations | 4 | 4 | ||||
Initial Penalty | $22,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $22,000 |
Current Penalty | $22,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $22,000 |
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. | 01001A | Serious | 19100037 A03 | 04/03/2012 | 04/27/2012 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $0 | - | ||
2. | 01001B | Serious | 19100037 B04 | 04/03/2012 | 04/27/2012 | $0 | $0 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | Citation has been deleted. | |
3. | 01002A | Serious | 19100106 D02 I | 04/03/2012 | 05/27/2012 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
4. | 01002B | Serious | 19100106 E06 II | 04/03/2012 | 05/27/2012 | $0 | $0 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
5. | 01003A | Serious | 19100106 E02 IVC | 04/03/2012 | 04/27/2012 | $7,000 | $7,000 | $0 | - | ||
6. | 01003B | Serious | 19100106 E07 IC | 04/03/2012 | 04/27/2012 | $0 | $0 | $0 | - | ||
7. | 01004 | Serious | 19100106 E09 I | 04/03/2012 | 04/27/2012 | $7,000 | $7,000 | $0 | - |
Investigation Summary
On October 5, 2011, Employee #1 and Employee #2 were working as mixing and blending machine operators for WS Packaging Group, Inc. Employee #1 was helping an ink technician, Employee #2. He had finished mixing a batch of color and begun to clean the mixer head. The mixing machine that Employee #1 was about to clean was 6 inches (0.15 meters, or 150 millimeters) from a UV light curing unit. Following standard procedure, Employee #1 filled a 5-gallon (18.9 liter) bucket with Nova SP120 Pressroom Products Glaze Remover cleaning solvent. He lowered the mixing head into the bucket and started the mixer. He turned around and walked to the other end of a worktable. Employee #2, the regular ink technician, was working at another table on the opposite side of the mixer from Employee #1. Employee #2 heard a splashing sound coming from the mixer. He turned around to find Employee #1 already at the mixer, attempting to shut down the machine. At that time, Employee #2 observed flames coming across the table from the UV unit. The flames reached the bucket of solvent. It ignited, causing an explosion. Employee #2 ran away from the fire ball, but his left sleeve, pant leg, and backside caught on fire. Witnesses helped Employee #2 extinguish his burning clothing. Employee #2 and the witnesses started for the emergency exit door when they observed Employee #1 engulfed in flames. Attempts to suppress the flames failed due to the splashing of the solvent during the explosion. One of the witnesses used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire. He then escorted Employee #1 out of the building. When police, fire, and ambulance crews arrived at the facility, the sprinkler system had extinguished the fire. Employee #2 suffered second- and first-degree burns to his left arm, leg, and back. He was treated at UPMC Northwest in Seneca, PA and released. Employee #1 was airlifted to UPMC Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA, where he died on November 3, 2011, as a result of his burns.
Keywords: BURN, PRINTING PRESS, EMERGENCY RESPONSE, FLAMMABLE LIQUID, FLAMMABLE VAPORS, PRINTING, CLEANING, CLEANING FLUID, ARM, LEG
# | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 315763870 | Fatality | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Mixing and blending machine operators |