Inspection Detail

Inspection: 119973436 - Kern Oil & Refining

Inspection Information - Office: Fresno District Office

Inspection Nr: 119973436

Report ID: 0950625

Date Opened: 03/18/1996

Site Address:
Kern Oil & Refining
7724 E Panama Ln
Bakersfield, CA 93307

Mailing Address:
, , 00000

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:2911

NAICS: 0

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Safety

Close Conference: 06/07/1996

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 12/31/1996

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	362051013

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	1					1
Current Violations				1		1
Initial Penalty	$5,000	$0	$0	$0	$0	$5,000
Current Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$300	$0	$300
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	5189 G01	06/07/1996	06/12/1996	$300	$5,000	$0		I - Informal Settlement

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 170623730

Event: 12/08/1995

Employee burned when naphtha vapors ignite

At approximately 7:00 a.m. on December 8, 1995, Employee #1 was working at the Kern Oil & Refining Company facility in Bakersfield, CA. As a result of increased pressure caused by the liquid in the system, the head blew off from the Gardner-Denver light naphtha compressor, model R9CS. Naphtha vapors sprayed into the atmosphere and were ignited by a Whitlock heater. Employee #1 tried to escape the fire but became engulfed by flames and sustained third-degree burns on his hands and face. A high-liquid level alarm was supposed to sound when potentially dangerous levels of liquid entered the system. After the fire was extinguished, an examination of the alarm system revealed the alarm switch was in the 'off' position and therefore not operational.

Keywords: BURN, FLAMMABLE VAPORS, WORK RULES, ALARM, FIRE, NAPHTHA, HIGH PRESSURE, FACE, ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE, HAND

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	119973436			Hospitalized injury	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Miscellaneous plant and system operators

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