Accident: 170195465 - Injured When Lawn Mower Crashes Into Ditch

On May 7, 1999, Employee #1, a 20-year-old maintenance man who operated a recreation area on a lake, was driving a riding lawn mower down a paved road. The brakes and transmission failed and the mower went out of control and free wheeled. Employee #1 crashed into a small, rocky ditch, fracturing his neck.

fall, lost control, fracture, work rules, brake, lawn mower, equipment failure, neck, engine

Accident: 200210151 - Killed In Flash Fire On Oil Rig

Just before 9:00 a.m. on November 13, 1996, the employer opened up a well and found no pressure. The exchange packer was tested to 2,000 lb of pressure, with satisfactory results. The employer then rigged up Loomis testers and went in the hole with six stands of 2 3/8 in. production tubing. At that point, the well began unloading oil and gas, which lasted for approximately two minutes before it died. The employer continued running in the hole with 105 stands of 2 3/8 in. production tubing. Again the well started to unload oil and gas. At approximately 1:00 p.m., Employee #1, a tool pusher, was at the doghouse at the entrance to the well location when he heard the diesel engine, which had been racing, slow down and begin to run at a normal rate. A short time later he again heard the diesel engine start to run away and saw white smoke pouring out of the muffler system. Employee #1 ran for the diesel engine. He had just reached the front of the rig carrier when the diesel engine backfired and ignited a fire. Flames engulfed the rear of the rig carrier, the front of the drilling mud circulating tank, and the skid containing the mud pump and the diesel engine. Employee #1 sustained severe burns and was killed. The driller was at the drillers' work station, closing the pipe and blank rams of the blowout preventers (bop's), when the fire started.

oil well servicing, burn, fire, flammable liquid, oil rig, engine, mech malfunction

Accident: 201080157 - Injures Fingers In Fan Belt

On September 10, 1996, Employee #1 was trying to start a Caterpillar booster pump engine, model 3304. When he turned the ignition switch, the starter engaged the flywheel and then became stuck. It did not turn the flywheel, so Employee #1 attempted to disengage the starter by pulling down on the belts to turn over the engine. When he began to pull on the belts, the engine started and his fingers became caught between the belts and the fan and alternator pulleys. Employee #1 sustained partial amputation of three of his fingers.

agriculture, engine, ignition system, finger, caught between, fan belt, pulley, amputated, work rules, stuck

Accident: 170591945 - Burned When Natural Gas Ignites

Employee #1, of the engine processor division of Dresser-Rand Company, was engaged in the start up of a natural gas compressor system. He was troubleshooting a Wankesha internal combustion compressor engine, serial #5346984, trying to get a spark from spark plug #1. The compressor's engine starter was driven by pressure from a natural gas field supply line. The starter's exhaust line had been opened. Employee #1 made a gap in the wire from the coil to the spark plug and was turning on the engine when the spark ignited the gas. Employee #1 suffered serious burns on his hands and face.

engine, flammable vapors, burn, spark, hand, face, natural gas, ignition system, engine

Accident: 170151872 - Left Hand Amputated By Belt Drive

Employee #1 and a coworker had just finished fixing a hydraulic leak on a pavement machine next to a K rail median of the freeway. The coworker started the machine, and with the cover open, Employee #1 aimed a flashlight into the engine compartment to see if the hydraulic leak was fixed. He slipped and his left hand, which was holding the flashlight, fell into the belt drive of the motor. His left hand was amputated and he was hospitalized.

amputated, slip, hand, caught by, belt, construction, repair, engine

Accident: 170731343 - Finger Amputated By Truck Belt And Pulley

At approximately 5:30 a.m. on January 23, 1995, Employee #1, of the Pepsi Cola Company, Baldwin Park, CA, opened the hood of his 10-wheeler delivery truck, #297, to do a pre-operational inspection test. His left index finger was caught in the engine's moving belt and pulley and partially amputated. It could not be determined if Employee #1 knew that the truck's engine was running. Employee #1 could not be reached by telephone for an interview. The report findings are based on information from the employer. No accident-related violations were found during the investigation.

finger, amputated, belt, pulley, truck, engine, inattention, caught by, lockout, work rules

Accident: 170737266 - Three Lacerated While Servicing Bulldozer Engine

At approximately 4:20 p.m. on November 22, 1994, Employee #1 was working on the six-cylinder diesel engine of a turbo-charged, water-cooled D342 Caterpillar bulldozer. He was using compressed nitrogen to pressurize the combustion chambers to ensure that gasses were entering the cooling system. After he tested the second cylinder, he asked Employees #2 and #3 for assistance. Employee #1 was standing on the machine with his back turned to Employee #2, who was on the ground and operating the nitrogen gas valve. The engine turned and the radiator fan blade struck Employee #1's right hand. He sustained lacerations and injured his extensor tendon. Employee #3 transported Employee #1 to St. John's Hospital in Oxnard CA, where Employee #1 was hospitalized. The employer was cited for violations of T8CCR 3314(e)(3) and T8CCR 6151 (e)(2). Employees #2 and #3 were also reported to have sustained wrist lacerations.

hand, fan blade, work rules, engine, struck by, laceration, communication, maintenance, bulldozer

Accident: 170732440 - Burned When Gasoline Ignites

At approximately 11:00 p.m. on June 27, 1994, Employee #1 was fueling the gasoline engine of an agitator motor. Gasoline came into contact with the open flames of a thermo plastic kettle. Employee #1 sustained second- and third-degree burns to his arms.

burn, engine, work rules, construction, arm, flammable liquid, fire, gasoline, flammable vapors

Accident: 170727689 - Burned While Fueling Running Gas Engine

Employee #1, an on site foreman with nine years of experience, was hydroseeding the grounds of a single family residence. He was leaning over the tank of a 4 stroke single cylinder engine, pouring gas into it while it was running. Employee #1's right hand, right arm, and a portion of the right side of his face sustained second- and third-degree burns. He admitted that he fueled the engine while it was running because he feared he would not be able to restart it once it was turned off.

inadequate maint, burn, hand, arm, face, lockout, engine, gasoline, work rules

Accident: 170628028 - Touches Fan Blade Of Running Engine

Employee #1 was working as a mechanic, adjusting the carburetor on a forklift truck. He was using the throttle linkage at the carburetor to rev the engine as he made adjustments. His hand slipped and his finger contacted the fan blade. The engine had to be running during this adjustment period.

slip, carburetor, finger, engine, fan blade, mechanic, industrial truck, interlock