Cal/OSHA Cites Roofing Company After Preventable Tanker Explosion Burns Two Workers

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SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif., Nov. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cal/OSHA has cited AAA Roofing by Gene, Inc. for serious safety violations following an asphalt tanker explosion in Santa Fe Springs that burned two workers and launched them 10 feet onto the ground. Both workers suffered third-degree burns. One worker's burns covered up to 36 percent of his body.

AAA Roofing had been hired to repair the flat roof of a warehouse when the accident occurred on May 2, 2016. Two employees standing on top of a tanker truck were attempting to turn the truck's discharge pipe to face another direction. Cal/OSHA inspectors learned that the workers' foreman instructed them to heat the pipe with a propane torch to loosen it.

The tanker was half-filled with hot liquid asphalt. Heated liquid asphalt releases flammable vapors.

"Flammable vapors accumulated in kettles and tankers, if ignited, can burn or explode," said Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum. "Employers must ensure that no source of ignition is permitted in any location, indoors or outdoors, where the concentration of flammable gases or vapors exceeds or may reasonably be expected to exceed 25 percent of the lower explosive limit."

Cal/OSHA issued three workplace safety citations to AAA Roofing by Gene this week, with proposed penalties of $24,575. Two of the citations are serious, and one is regulatory in nature. One of the serious citations involves AAA's failure to ensure the tanker truck was equipped with a 42-inch guardrail. This could have helped ensure the workers did not fall 10 feet as they did. The other serious citation was for allowing a source of ignition to be introduced where the flammable gases exceeded 25 percent of the lower explosive limit.

A serious violation is cited when there is a realistic possibility that death or serious harm could result from the actual hazardous condition. 

Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Cal/OSHA's Consultation Services Branch provides free and voluntary assistance to employers to improve their health and safety programs. Employers should call (800) 963-9424 for assistance from Cal/OSHA Consultation Services. Cal/OSHA has also published a wealth of helpful guides for employers, including ones on mitigating health and safety hazards like explosions at construction sites.

Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIR's Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734). The California Workers' Information line at 866-924-9757 provides recorded information in English and Spanish on a variety of work-related topics. Complaints can also be filed confidentially with Cal/OSHA district offices.

Members of the press may contact Erika Monterroza or Peter Melton at (510) 286-1161, and are encouraged to subscribe to get email alerts on DIR's press releases or other departmental updates.

The California Department of Industrial Relations, established in 1927, protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. For general inquiries, contact DIR's Communications Call Center at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department.

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SOURCE California Department of Industrial Relations, Cal/OSHA