General Dynamics Nassco: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Aug 29, 2021: Employee punctures, injects fingers while using pneumatic pa

At 5:40 p.m. on August 29, 2021, an employee was working as a carpenter for a ship yard performing spray painting. This was a regular part of the employee's job duties. The employee was working inside of SOC 4 building 85 paint cell #5. The employee had been tasked with painting unit 623 hull 573. To complete his task the employee was using a Graco pneumatic spray gun and while working from a scissor lift to access parts of the hull. The employee was lowering the scissor lift with the spray gun in his left hand. At some point in his descent the scissor lift bumped against a portion of the hull and caused the employee to actuate the trigger of the spray gun. The safety to the trigger of the spray gun was not engaged. The employee was wearing safety glasses and gloves during the work. The employee was hospitalized to treat a puncture wound to his fingers and a paint injection. On August 31, 2021, the employee was discharged.

Incident on Jul 23, 2021: Two employees are injured in scissor lift accident during cr

At 12:30 p.m. on July 23, 2021, two employees were working at a shipbuilding and maintenance site operated by NASSCO in San Diego, California. Employee #1 was operating a crane to rig and position a 700-800-pound steel vent hood and also operated a scissor lift to bring Employee #2, a welder, to approximately 20 feet to tack weld the vent hood to the ship body. While the vent hood was suspended, Employee #1 pushed it and performed limited tack welding. The jib of the crane shifted, causing the vent hood to break free and strike the scissor lift, which then tipped over. Both employees fell with the scissor lift. Employee #1 sustained fractures to the hand, back, and other injuries, and Employee #2 sustained a crushing injury to the left leg, which later required below-the-knee amputation. Both employees were transported via ambulance to UCSD Medical Center for admission and treatment.

Incident on May 6, 2021: Employee?s finger is amputated when weight block shifts duri

At 9:40 a.m. on May 6, 2021, Employee #1, a testing foreman at a shipyard, was assisting a coworker with rigging weight blocks to test a monorail system. The monorail was approximately 3 to 4 feet above the ground, creating limited space to rig the weights. Two weight blocks of different sizes were used to reach 125% of the monorail's half-ton rated capacity due to the unavailability of a single correct weight. Employee #1 was attempting to position the smaller weight to shackle the two weights together. After unsuccessfully using a come-along to move the smaller weight due to space constraints, Employee #1 and the coworker tried to move a 500-pound weight by hand. As the 500-pound weight cleared the top of the 800-pound weight, it shifted and crushed Employee #1's finger, resulting in amputation. The employer reported the injury to the San Diego District Office the same day. Employee #1 was hospitalized overnight and released the following day. Lack of proper rigger training and supervision were identified as contributing factors.

Incident on May 12, 2021: Employee fractures spine and wrist in fall while descending

At 11:47 p.m. on May 12, 2021, an employee was working as a trainee for a company at a shipyard where the construction and repair of ships is performed. The employee had worked at the shipyard for several months. A coworker (supervisor) tasked him with welding on a ship block which required working from a ladder. The employee had used ladders in the course of his job in the past. The employee was concluding his work day and was descending a job-made wooden ladder that was approximately 20 feet in height. The employee was attempting to carry his welding helmet and a bag of tools with him while he was climbing down the ladder. The employee slipped and fell approximately 15 feet to the concrete. The employee was hospitalized to treat fractures to his wrists and a spine from impact with the concrete.

Incident on Jan 10, 2020: Employee burns both hands probing lis when arc flash occurs

At 9:30 p.m. on January 10, 2020, an employee and Coworker #1, both Maintenance Electricians, were dispatched to troubleshoot a crane that had lost power. The crane is one of many located in a steel yard within a shipbuilding facility. After not being able to identify the problem, the employee (the Lead) called the maintenance shop to update Coworker #2 (Maintenance Supervisor) about the situation. Coworker #2 sent Coworker #3 (Maintenance Technician) to help. After no success, Coworker #3 called Coworker #2 who came out to assist with the troubleshooting. Coworker #2 went inside the building and opened the door to a 4,160 volt load interrupt switch (LIS) box and directed the employee get his Fluke 117 hand-held multimeter. Coworker #2 then directed the employee to start probing busbars on the LIS with the Fluke. The employee probed the bottom row of busbars and then continued probing while Coworker #2 stood behind him. As the employee probed the middle busbar an arc flash occurred that burned both his hands. The employee incurred 2nd degree electrical burns to both hands, requiring hospitalization.

Incident on Oct 22, 2019: Employee welding fractures leg when struck by crane

At 1:00 p.m. on October 22, 2019, an employee was working as a Welder for a shipbuilding and repair facility. Coworkers (Welders) were in the process of assembling metal pieces for a new ship being constructed at the shipyard. The employee and coworkers in this department work at a location called a "table" where the large ship sections are welded. An overhead gantry crane is used to lift the heavy parts and completed pieces travels back and forth as work is being done under the path of the crane. The employee was assigned to weld an upright section on a piece that was being completed. He was working near the edge of the table closest to the railroad tracks on which the crane travels back and forth. While welding near the edge of the table, the employee had his left leg hanging over the edge when his leg was struck by the crane traveling on the track near the edge of the table. The employee fractured his left lower leg and was hospitalized.

Incident on Apr 16, 2019: Employee is burned when flammable gases ignite

At 6:00 p.m. on April 16, 2019, Employee # 1 and a coworker with General Dynamics NASSCO, a shipbuilding and repair facility, were constructing and preparing wooden blocks by melting wax in a portable metal melting pot which is heated by placing a rosebud torch into a rectangular chamber at the bottom of the melting pot. A mixture of oxygen and natural gas is used to fuel the torch. The coworker, lit the torch, placed it into the bottom of the melting pot, leaving it unattended while he went to perform other tasks. The coworker asked Employee #1 to go and turn down the flame on the torch. Employee # 1 found that the torch was extinguished, so he pulled the torch out of the chamber to re-light it using a flint striker. The concentration of natural gas and oxygen that had accumulated in and around the melting pot's lower chamber ignited when Employee # 1 attempted to re-light the torch. Employee # 1 was injured with burns to his arms and facial hair. Employee # 1 was hospitalized. . hospitalized..

Incident on Nov 28, 2018: Employee is caught by electrical arc and sustains second and

At 9:30 a.m. on November 28, 2018, an employee was using an alligator clip while running continuity tests and was caught by an arc flash that occurred. The employee sustained second and third degree burns. The employee was hospitalized.

Incident on Mar 7, 2018: Temporary worker sustains crushing injury

At 2:00 p.m. on March 7, 2018, an employee was working as a temporary employee for a staffing agency, his primary employer. The agency had sent him to a firm that was engaged in ship building and repairing, his secondary employer. He had an immediate supervisor at his secondary employer. His secondary employer was a ship builder. The secondary employer hires temporary employees through a staffing agency to perform ship construction activities and rigging operations. Among the duties were the placement and installation of steel equipment and structural components. Workers were installing a stanchion brace on Block 440 in lanes H1 and H2 of the facility. They were using crane #14 to hoist and position the brace into a clip. There was a cross pipe installed on the stanchion above the clip where the brace was to be placed. The employee was working as a rigger on Block 440 in lanes H1 and H2 of the facility. He was working with the crane operator to position the suspended stanchion brace on a rest plate. The employee placed his right hand on the topside of the suspended brace and his left one at the bottom while guiding the brace into place. When the suspended load was moved up, it caught the employee's right hand between the cross pipe and the brace. The employee sustained a crushing injury. He was hospitalized for more than 24 hours and he required surgery. DOSH learned of the accident at 8:15 a.m. on March 9, 2018, when the primary employer reported it via phone. This report was not in compliance with the reporting requirements of T8 CCR �342(a). DOSH arrived at the site at 1:05 p.m. on March 27, 2018. Factors that caused the injury included employer's not identifying the potential for a crushing injury. identifying the potential for a crushing injury.

Incident on Sep 5, 2017: Employee suffers multiple leg fractures when one ton unit fa

At 12:30 p.m. on September 5, 2017, Employee #1, a rigger, and a coworker were working in M-Lane, directly across from the graving dock. Crane #15, a gantry crane, was being used to lift a one ton desiccant dryer unit onto a section being built for a new ship that was under construction. Employee #1 was using straps configured into a basket sling to lift the unit with the help of the crane. He signaled the crane operator to lift and lower the unit several times because he was having trouble stabilizing the load. As Employee #1 was trying to stop it from slipping, the unit slipped to the side, and landed on his legs. A supervisor and the working rigging foreman rushed over to help free Employee #1 from under the one ton unit. The employee sustained multiple fractures to both legs and was hospitalized for his injuries.

Incident on Jul 31, 2014 (fatal): Employee falls from height and is killed

At 9:15 a.m. on July 31, 2014, an employee walked inside a cargo and weapon's elevator and grabbed an end of a green masking tape. Then he started walking backward and fell through a gap/hole 25 inches by 88 inches. He fell approximately 98 feet. There was no fall safety harnesses, lanyards, anchors, safety nets, and guardrail systems installed to provide the safest working environment. The employee sustained broken bones, internal bleeding and he was killed.