Inspection Detail

Inspection: 126173111 - La County Mta

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Inspection Nr: 126173111

Report ID: 0950642

Date Opened: 07/14/1998

Site Address:
La County Mta
720 East 15th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Mailing Address:
, , 00000

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:9621

NAICS: 0

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: LocalGovt

Safety/Health: Health

Close Conference: 12/07/1998

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 10/19/1999

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	362539223
Accident	362539538

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	1					1
Current Violations	1					1
Initial Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Current Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
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	Serious	5603	12/07/1998	12/24/1998	$0	$0	$0		-

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 126173111

Event: 07/14/1998

Two employees injured when methanol vapors explode

At approximately 11:20 a.m. on July 14, 1998, Employees #1 and #2 and two coworkers were working at the underground tank farm at a bus maintenance yard. Employee #1 was removing a fill tube from underground storage tank #2 when methanol vapors were ignited, possibly by the friction of the tube as it contacted the tank. Employee #1 was hurled backward and sustained second- and third-degree burns in the resulting explosion and fire. Employee #2 was standing nearby and suffered injuries to his leg. Subsequent investigation and interviews with witnesses at the scene found that no methods were used to control sources of ignition near the methanol vapors, and that the tank had not been purged prior to the maintenance operation.

Keywords: BURN, FLAMMABLE LIQUID, FLAMMABLE VAPORS, WORK RULES, EXPLOSION, SPARK, CHEMICAL VAPOR, TANK, LEG

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	126173111			Hospitalized injury	Other	Bus, truck and stationary engine mechanics
2	126173111			Hospitalized injury	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Bus, truck and stationary engine mechanics

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