Inspection Detail

Inspection: 14607089 - Western States Petroleum Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Arizona Division Of Occupational Safety And Health (Adosh)

Investigation Summary

EMPLOYEE #1 ENTERED AN EMPTY 10,000 GALLON STORAGE TANK TO CLEAN IT. THE TANK HAD CONTAINED TOLUENE, AND HAD BEEN EMPTY FOR ALMOST 8 HOURS. EMPLOYEE #1 COLLAPSED AND FELL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK. HE WAS NOT WEARING A SCBA OR A HARNESS. THE PHOENIX FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE RESCUE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT USED A K-12 GASOLINE SAW WITH A METAL BLADE TO CUT AN OPENING IN THE SIDE OF THE TANK. TWO VERTICAL CUTS WERE COMPLETED. THE THIRD CUT WAS TWO INCHES FROM COMPLETION WHEN THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED. EMPLOYEE #3 WAS OPERATING THE SAW AND EMPLOYEE #2 WAS STANDING NEXT TO EMPLOYEE #3. EMPLOYEE #4 WAS STANDING SIX TO EIGHT FEET BACK FROM EMPLOYEES #2 AND #3. EMPLOYEE #1 DIED FROM ASPHYXIATION AND TOLUENE POISONING. HE WAS DEAD BEFORE THE BLAST. EMPLOYEE #2 WAS IN THE DIRECT PATH OF THE BLAST AND DIED AS A RESULT OF THE BLAST. EMPLOYEE #3 RECEIVED FIRST AND SECOND DEGREE BURNS, LACERATIONS, AND OTHER INJURIES. EMPLOYEE #4 RECEIVED FIRST AND SECOND DEGREE BURNS TO HIS FACE, NECK AND CHEST.

Keywords: ASPHYXIATED, TOLUENE, EXPLOSION, LACERATION, BURN, CONFINED SPACE