OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #221490360
MEEDER EQUIPMENT COMPANY
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA—
Event description
Employee Is Killed By Asphyxiation After Entering Tank For S
Investigation abstract
At 3:00 p.m. on August 18, 2022, an employee entered an empty liquid propane gas approximately 3:30 p.m., the supervisor began looking around the shop for the employee since it was closing time. The supervisor eventually found the employee slumped over and unresponsive inside near the entrance of the tank, and called 9-1-1 and also a coworker to come over to assist. The coworker entered the tank three times to attempt to rescue the employee but was unsuccessful. At 4:13 p.m., fire department personnel arrived onsite and used a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to enter the tank and remove the employee. The employee was killed by asphyxiation due to residual vapors and lack of oxygen inside of the LPG tank. (LPG) tank for servicing at an industrial equipment wholesaler facility. Earlier in the day, the employee approached a supervisor and stated that he wanted to enter the tank to spray Torq CB III penetrating oil product on an internal valve to loosen it overnight so it could be worked on the next day. The supervisor told the employee to wait until the next morning when the tank could be vented. The employee entered the tank by using a manlift connected to a forklift and a ladder and was overcome by the vapor residue inside the tank. The employee was not wearing a respirator but had a blower nearby which was unused. At
Victim
-
#1 Fatality Age 62 M
- Event type
- 8
- Occupation code
- 519
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