Inspection Detail

Inspection: 119673796 - Thermal Mechanical

Inspection Information - Office: Oakland District Office

Investigation Summary

On April 23, 1998, Employee #1, an employee of Thermal Mechanical for 30 days, was working in the cafeteria of the Washington Hospital in Fremont, CA. He was installing and welding stainless steel Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) ducting into the cafeteria ceiling. Employee #1 felt ill and went home. According to the statement from two coworkers, Employee #1 was also installing and welding stainless steel HVAC on April 13, 1998 and April 14, 1998. On May 6, 1998, Employee #1 went to see a doctor at the Petaluma Valley Hospital due to shortness of breath and coughing. Employee #1 told the physician that he was welding on stainless steel for 30 minutes in a confined space in April. The physician took an X-ray that showed bilateral pleural effusions. The physician made the diagnosis of "chemically-induced bronchitis" and admitted Employee #1to the Petaluma Valley Hospital. Employee #1 stayed in the hospital from May 6, 1998 to May 8, 1989. On May 9, 1998, Employee #1 went to the emergency room and was readmitted to the Petaluma Valley Hospital after experiencing nausea, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea. On May 10, 1998 Employee #1 suffered burning chest pain and was discovered to have an acute myocardial infarction. He was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit and later developed pulmonary edema. On May 14, 1998, Employee #1 was transferred to the Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for further cardiac care. On May 14, 1998, Employee #1 underwent a cardiac procedure and was later discharged on May 20, 1998. On May 23, 1998, Employee #1 suffered a heart attack. He was taken to the emergency room at the Santa Rosa Hospital where he subsequently died. The ultimate cause of death was determined to be an acute anterior myocardial infarction. It is unclear and uncertain whether or not Employee #1's welding fume exposure was a factor contributing to the employee's course of cardiac failure and fatality. A review of the literature on the health hazards associated with stainless steel welding fume exposure was inconclusive in revealing a link between acute or chronic welding fume exposure and cardiac conditions.

Keywords: DUCT, STEEL, CEILING, HEART ATTACK, CONSTRUCTION, WELDING