Cat-Spec, Ltd: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Nov 5, 2021 (fatal): Employee dies after participating in training exercise

At 4:30 p.m. on November 5, 2021, an employee was participating in a training exercise while wearing an Edelhoff, full facepiece, type C, positive pressure, supplied-air respirator. The exercise simulated air supply issues employees may face when inside reactor vessels. The employee climbed into a mock reactor vessel to complete the training exercise. The employee climbed into the bottom of the reactor, completed a 5-step procedure, and climbed back out of the vessel. When the employee made it out of the vessel, he collapsed onto the vessel's platform. The employee's respirator was removed, and he was transported to the hospital. The employee was pronounced dead shortly after the arrival to the hospital. The medical examiner determined the manner of death was natural caused by hypertensive cardiovascular disease with coronary arterial arteriosclerosis contributed to by obesity.

Incident on Apr 15, 2019: Employee fractures femur while unloading catalyst

At 4:00 p.m. on April 15, 2019, Employee #1 was breaking up a fused catalyst with a pickaxe inside a reactor for a turnkey catalyst services contractor. He was struck in the thigh by a piece of the catalyst from a 5 ft high overhang that broke off along a fault line. The employee was hospitalized for a fractured left femur.

Incident on Feb 3, 2004 (fatal): One employee died, other exposed to heat stress in vessel

On February 3, 2004, Employees #1 and #2 were working inside a refinery's reacto r vessel that was cleared previously by the site employer for a planned turnarou nd. Employee #1 and #2 were part of a specialist contractor, assigned to remove spent catalyst from the vessel's beds. Outdoor conditions were cold, between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, with mild humidity. Employee #1 and #2 were dressed i n multiple clothing layers, including a Tyvek suit for winter conditions. The te mperature inside the vessel was over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The ventilation of the space was lacking. Employee #1 was unable to maneuver the cable ladder to re scue himself from the lengthy vertical ascent, once he became affected by the he at stress. Employee #2, who was not working so long in this confined space, sust ained heat stress symptoms but was able to exit. Rescue time for Employee #1 was extended, and he showed no signs of life when he was removed from the processed vessel.