Exposure to change in water pressure · Caisson disease, bends, divers' palsy
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Halycon Diving, Inc., West Side Cypress Island, ANACORTES, WASHINGTON 98221
on — Caisson disease, bends, divers' palsy, affecting the bODY SYSTEMS.
Final narrative
An employee was diving for sea cucumbers at a depth of approximately 70 feet. After completing the dive, they began to feel numbness in their legs and were hospitalized for decompression sickness.
HospitalizedBODY SYSTEMSWater pressure-high or low
An employee was on his second SCUBA dive of the day, stacking tires for removal from the seabed of a failed artificial reef. He developed vertigo and nausea, which worsened when he surfaced. He was hospitalized, suffering from decompression sickness.
A diver was removing sediment from the floor of the tank in 47 feet of water. The diver lost his weight belt and made an uncontrolled ascent to the surface resulting in an air embolism and coma.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 114112)
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An employee was drilling a hole into the sealed hold of a vessel so a marine chemist could test its atmosphere. Upon drilling the hole, a gas that was under pressure was released and caught fire at the drill motor, where the employee was holding it. The employee was burned.
An employee was performing restoration activities outside a 45-gallon condensation tank of a boiler system. As they were performing post-maintenance activities after repairing one of the two discharge pumps, one of the discharge valves would not open. The employee closed the intake pump to cool off the system and open the discharge valve. Two employees opened the inlet valve to return the tank to service. After they cracked open the inlet valve, a side wall of the tank blew out, causing the injured employee to suffer steam burns to half their body.
An employee was testing and troubleshooting the gang cylinder valve located in the gang area of the sawmill. The employee's fingertip was amputated by the gang cylinder valve.
An employee was unlocking containers on deck. The employee was de-lashing while standing on the edge of the lid. The lashing bar he was holding came off the cone, causing him to turn 90 degrees and strike a railing behind him. The employee sustained four fractured ribs.
An employee parked a side-by-side on the fixed internal ramp aboard a cargo ship. They exited the side-by-side and went to inspect the cargo below. The side-by-side rolled toward the employee and struck them as they were walking toward the edge of the ramp. The employee was knocked off the ramp and landed on the lower deck approximately 8 feet below. The employee was hospitalized with a fractured shoulder.