CA Water Resources: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Jul 22, 2009: Employee is injured when struck by tools and debris

On July 22, 2009, Employee #1 was working with a crew that was operating flow co ntrol valves in the River Valve Chamber (RVC) of the Hyatt Power Facility inside of Oroville Dam. The crew had been directed to open the river valves to 100. Wh en the valves were opened to 85, the Break-Away wall was sucked downstream into the 35-ft river diversion tunnel. The suction eliminated the lights and sucked a ny loose materials or equipment in the access areas above the RVC toward the RVC . The suction knocked three workers off of their feet and toward the tunnel. It pulled two employees over the edge of the RVC concrete platform. Employee #1 was hanging over the edge of the RVC concrete platform, holding on to the bent rail , and was struck by various tools and equipment. He suffered head trauma, a brok en leg, a broken arm and multiple bruises and cuts. He was hospitalized for four days.

Incident on Feb 7, 2007 (fatal): Two employees drown when diving to clean muscles from racks

On February 7, 2007, Employee #1 and Employee #2 were working at the Dos Amigos Pumping Plant diving. The employees were inspecting trash racks number 1, 2, and 3 for quagga muscles. Employees #1 and #2 drowned.

Incident on Mar 22, 2005: Employee fractures vertrabrae in fall from ladder

On March 22, 2005, Employee #1 was working on the number 3 air handling unit. He was using a ladder to gain access to its top. As he stepped from the ladder to the top of the unit, he fell approximately 12 feet. He sustained four fractured vertebrae in the fall. He was hospitalized.

Incident on May 21, 1994: Fall in electric power generation plant

A maintenance worker was cleaning up after the reassembly of a unit at a large u nderground electric power generating plant. He had picked up materials and was m aking sure that no tools or parts were left in the unit. The employee fell. (He did not remember where he was exactly, and there were no witnesses.) Evidence in dicated that he fell from a height of between 9 and 14 feet, either from somewhe re on the unit or from the main floor level. The employee was hospitalized for t wo fractured vertebrae and one cracked vertebra, with a prognosis of paraplegia.

Incident on Feb 20, 1991: Employee's fingertips severed in painting machine

Employee #1 was using a cotton pad to clean the second color unit of a 1860 pain ter while the machine was running. The ends of two of his fingers were amputated . The guard microswitches were inoperative and the guards had been secured open. First aid was administered on site and Employee #1 was transferred by ambulance to the U. C. Davis trauma unit. Both fingertips were reattached; one has taken well, but the second appeared to require additional surgery.