Accident: 170363055 - Ten Employees Exposed To Asbestos
Employee #1 was supervising Employees #2 through #10, who were prison inmates under the care of the California Department of Corrections. They were demolishing the interior of Flagerty Hall, a building at the Glenn County (CA) fairgrounds, as part of a remodeling project. Some of the employees were using hammers to break away wall plaster in the restrooms. Several workers struck the hot water pipes, damaging the asbestos insulated pipes in approximately four places. The Glenn County fairgrounds maintenance supervisor noticed the damage and had work stopped immediately. All personnel evacuated the building and it was sealed. The exposed employees disposed of their clothing, showered, and were then transported to the Glenn County Medical Center for examination and clearance. None were hospitalized.
asbestos, demolition, inhalation, dust, struck against, air contamination
Accident: 170579239 - Three Employees Burned In Explosion And Flash Fire
Employees #1 through #3 were conducting asbestos abatement in a bank vault. They were using a highly flammable stripping solvent to remove sprayed-on asbestos. A flash fire and explosion ensued, and all three employees were hospitalized with first-, second- and/or third- degree burns.
asbestos, flammable liquid, fire, explosion, burn, construction, flammable vapors, combustible liquid, cleaning fluid
Accident: 170374680 - Exposed To Asbestos During Demolition Work
Employee #1, of Willis and Company, removed approximately 1,500 square feet of asbestos-containing acoustic ceiling materials by knocking it down with a crowbar and letting it fall to the floor. The material was then collected, swept, and shoveled dry. Employee #1 performed this work without respiratory protection or engineering controls. He also removed approximately 1,500 square feet of asbestos-containing tile and mastic.
work rules, asbestos, dismantling, lung, respirator, dust inhalation, air contamination, inhalation, ppe
Accident: 170383459 - Ankle Fractured When Struck By Falling Pipe
At about 9:00 a.m. on August 22, 1995, Employee #1, a 43-year-old asbestos removal worker of Westair Technology, Inc., was removing asbestos at a military facility in San Diego. The work was being performed in a 3 ft trench, where a large steam line lies under a street. Employee #1 stepped on a pipe support bracket that broke under his weight and caused a pipe to fall and strike his left ankle. Other workers in the vicinity lifted the pipe off his leg and he was then taken to the employer's medical clinic where he was diagnosed with a fractured ankle. Employee #1 will be off work approximately 4 to 6 months as a result of the accident. No one witnessed the accident. The company specializes in asbestos and lead abatement. Employee #1 was a union-trained insulation worker and had several years experience removing asbestos. Ladders were available for use, but Employee #1 elected not to move the ladder down the trench.
construction, asbestos removal, pipe, overloaded, falling object, struck by, fracture, ankle, work rules, unstable position
Accident: 170571723 - Dies Of Mesothelioma
An insulation worker for an electric utility had several chest X-rays by the company during routine physicals where nothing was discovered. In March 1994, during his last X-ray by the company, pleural plaques were discovered. In April 1995, the employee underwent surgery to have the pleural plaques scraped away. During the surgery, doctors found mesothelioma. The employee was listed on the company injury and illness logs and was out on disability. He died on August 18, 1995. (The employee had not been involved with asbestos removal since the asbestos standard was issued.)
asbestos, chest, lung, asbestos removal, mesothelioma
Accident: 170151468 - Ten Employees Overexposed To Asbestos During Removal
On or about June 6, 1995, to July 27, 1995, at Northridge Peppertree Condominiums in Northridge, CA, Employees #1 through #10 were exposed to asbestos during removal of approximately 1,660 square feet of friable acoustical asbestos ceiling material. The employees were without protection.
construction, asbestos removal, asbestos, ppe, work rules, overexposure, dust inhalation
