Inspection Detail

Inspection: 314830829 - Hasa Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Van Nuys District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 10:00 a.m. on May 25, 2012, Employee #1, a 26-year-old male laborer with Hasa Inc., a manufacturer of chemical bleach, bottler of bleach and muriatic acid chemicals was working at dock holding tank number nine at the storage tank area of the facility. The tank was a Drum Dock Tank Snyder-Crown brand High Density Poly ethylene Identifier: Sodium Hypochlorite UN 1791 Corrosive and measured fifteen-feet and two-inches high. The manhole was 2 1.66-feet in diameter with a Werner Aluminum Extension Ladder, PN 50017-xx, which measured fourteen-feet unextended with twenty-six rungs. Employee #1 climbed an extension ladder to the top of a drum holding tank containing chlorine. As a coworker proceeded to clean the chlorine inside the tank using a skimmer machine and hose, Employee #1 who was next to the coworker slipped and fell approximately fifteen-feet and two-inches to the concrete ground below. Employee #1 sustained left ankle injury in the fall. Employee #1 was transported to Antelope Valley Hospital and was not admitted at that time. Employee #1 returned and received surgery approximately two weeks later and at that time was admitted in the hospital. The causal factor of the incident was the Employer did not ensure that its employees were provided with fall restraint/fall arrest systems or other structural means in order for the work to be done. OSHA later observed four, Tuff Belt Brand, Fall Tech, fall protection units available for use on the scene.

Keywords: CLEANING, FALL, FALL PROTECTION, ANKLE