Inspection Detail

Inspection: 309544138 - Baker Tank Co

Inspection Information - Office: Dallas Area Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 7:40 a.m. on May 9, 2007, Employee #1, a paint shop employee, was directing the placement of a 2,369-pound, 4-ft by 10-ft stainless steel pressure vessel onto railroad cross ties in a horizontal position to be sandblasted prior to being painted. Employee #1 did not like the position of the vessel on the cross ties because pipe flanges on the side of the vessel were not resting where he wanted them to be for the sandblasting operation. Employee #1 positioned himself on the opposite side of the vessel in relation to the forklift and between the two cross ties the vessel was resting on. Employee #1's position was in the plane of rotation of the man way. In the process of repositioning the vessel on the cross ties, Employee #1 moved the chock block located on the east side of the tank a few inches away from the sidewall of the tank leaving a gap for the tank to roll toward the chock and change the position of the tank on the cross ties. When Employee #1 moved the chock block on the west side of the vessel it caused the vessel to roll toward him. When the vessel rolled, Employee #1 was struck in the back by the man way and pinned between the man way and the concrete pad the vessel and cross ties were located on. Employee #1 was rapidly extricated by four coworkers and CPR was administered by the safety manager until Emergency Services arrived. Employee #1 did not have a pulse and never regained consciousness. Employee #1 was pronounced dead by the Justice of the Peace at the accident location.

Keywords: ASPHYXIATED, PRESSURE VESSEL, CRUSHED, STRUCK BY, PAINTER