Inspection Detail

Inspection: 308090448 - Apcom Power, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Kansas City Area Office

Investigation Summary

On January 28, 2005, Employee #1 and a coworker, both employees of APCom Power Inc., were repairing a leaking tube in a boiler at the Independence Power and Light Blue Valley Power Plant. Independence Power and Light (IPL) had a service agreement with APCom Power Inc. to service boilers and repair leaks. The contract employees were working as a two-man crew with no direct supervision by IPL. Employee #1 was the foreman and both employees were boilermakers by trade. The coworker was working at the third floor level of the boiler performing welding on casings on the outside of the boiler. Employee #1 had finished all work inside the boiler and was scheduled to break down the basket of the single-point adjustable suspension scaffold and remove it from the boiler. The employees ate lunch together at 4:30 a.m. and the coworker went back to the third floor at 5:00 a.m. to resume his work duties. The next break time occurred at 6:15 a.m. and the coworker returned to the bottom floor of the boiler to check in with Employee #1 when he found him laying unconscious with his head against the boiler door, his feet straddling the scaffold basket, and the scaffold partially collapsed on top of him. The rollers of the scaffold mast were lying just below his navel, his thighs were between the top rail and mid rail of the work cage, and the hoist motor and motor mount were positioned at his knees. The coworker found an IPL employee and emergency services were called. The employees returned to the boiler and attempted to free Employee #1 from the scaffold. The coworker operated the scaffold hoist to take the slack out of the wire rope and lift the scaffold mast, motor, and motor mount from Employee #1's body. Another employee, an IPL shift supervisor, administered CPR to Employee #1 but never got a response. The Fire Department arrived at the scene at 6:24 a.m. followed by the American Medical Response ambulance service at 6:29 a.m. Employee #1 was transported to MCI hospital by ambulance where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy was conducted. The coroner's report indicated that the victim died of mechanical asphyxia from being trapped by the partially collapsed scaffold.

Keywords: ASPHYXIATED, BOILER, EQUIPMENT FAILURE, STRUCK BY, FALLING OBJECT, SCAFFOLD