Inspection Detail

Inspection: 119799948 - Rbj Transport Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: American Canyon District Office

Inspection Nr: 119799948

Report ID: 0950622

Date Opened: 03/05/1997

Site Address:
Rbj Transport Inc.
1000 E. Childs Avenue
Merced, CA 95340

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 759, Merced, CA 95341

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:4212

NAICS: 0

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Safety

Close Conference: 03/27/1997

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 07/16/1997

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	362081358

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	1					1
Current Violations	1					1
Initial Penalty	$3,500	$0	$0	$0	$0	$3,500
Current Penalty	$3,500	$0	$0	$0	$0	$3,500
FTA Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

Violation Items
#	Citation ID	Citation Type	Standard Cited	Issuance Date	Abatement Due Date	Current Penalty	Initial Penalty	FTA Penalty	Contest	Latest Event	Note
1.	01001	Serious	5166 B01	04/10/1997	04/21/1997	$3,500	$3,500	$0		-

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 170864037

Event: 03/04/1997

Mechanic burned, later dies, in tank trailer explosion

At approximately 4:45 p.m. on March 4, 1997, Employee #1, a mechanic, was using an oxygen-acetylene torch to melt solid asphalt from outside the inner shell of a 42 ft tank trailer. A coworker had previously used the trailer to haul approximately 400 lb of asphalt. The coworker had then poured 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 gallons of diesel fuel into the top of the tank trailer to flush out the internal piping, discharge valve, and discharge hose before driving the empty trailer truck into the employer's yard. Employee #1 had partially stripped exterior sheet metal and insulation from the tank trailer and was starting to remove the solid asphalt when it exploded. The explosion separated the trailer into three sections and heavily damaged the shop building where it was parked. Employee #1 sustained burns over 85 percent of his body and died on march 11, 1997. He did not attempt to inert or purge the tank, or to test for flammable or combustible vapors, before he began working with the torch.

Keywords: BURN, TANK TRUCK, ACETYLENE TORCH, FLAMMABLE LIQUID, FLAMMABLE VAPORS, WORK RULES, FIRE, MECHANIC, EXPLOSION, ASPHALT

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	119799948			Fatality	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Bus, truck and stationary engine mechanics

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