Hasa Inc.: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Oct 5, 2012: Employee falls from a moving trailer and fractures tibia

At approximately 1:00 p.m., on October 5, 2012, Employee #1, a production worker of Hasa Inc., suffered a fractured right tibia when he jumped out of a moving t railer. Employee #1 was attempting to exit a moving trailer as it was being pull ed away from the loading dock when he fell approximately four feet onto the pave ment and broke his leg. Employee #1 was transported by the employer to US Health Works. Employee #1 was then transported to Henry Mayo Hospital by ambulance.

Incident on May 25, 2012: Worker falls and injures ankle

At approximately 10:00 a.m. on May 25, 2012, Employee #1, a 26-year-old male lab orer with Hasa Inc., a manufacturer of chemical bleach, bottler of bleach and mu riatic acid chemicals was working at dock holding tank number nine at the storag e tank area of the facility. The tank was a Drum Dock Tank Snyder-Crown brand Hi gh Density Poly ethylene Identifier: Sodium Hypochlorite UN 1791 Corrosive and m easured fifteen-feet and two-inches high. The manhole was 2 1.66-feet in diamete r with a Werner Aluminum Extension Ladder, PN 50017-xx, which measured fourteen- feet unextended with twenty-six rungs. Employee #1 climbed an extension ladder t o the top of a drum holding tank containing chlorine. As a coworker proceeded to clean the chlorine inside the tank using a skimmer machine and hose, Employee # 1 who was next to the coworker slipped and fell approximately fifteen-feet and t wo-inches to the concrete ground below. Employee #1 sustained left ankle injury in the fall. Employee #1 was transported to Antelope Valley Hospital and was not admitted at that time. Employee #1 returned and received surgery approximately two weeks later and at that time was admitted in the hospital. The causal factor of the incident was the Employer did not ensure that its employees were provide d with fall restraint/fall arrest systems or other structural means in order for the work to be done. OSHA later observed four, Tuff Belt Brand, Fall Tech, fall protection units available for use on the scene.

Incident on Sep 26, 2006: Employee is sickened after inhalation of toxic fumes

On September 26, 2006, Employee #1 was manually transferring Sodium Hypochlorite from a tote to an outdoor container when the chemical spilled onto the floor. A few days later, he developed headaches. Employee #1 drove himself to Valley Pre sbyterian hospital and was admitted for observation and treatment.

Incident on Jul 9, 2003: Employee has asthma attack when exposed to bleach

On July 9, 2003, Employee #1 was delivering boxes of sodium hypochlorite, or ble ach. During a delivery route Employee #1 noticed that one box tipped off a palle t in the truck trailer. He called back to his office to report what happened and that there were fumes inside the trailer. The safety manager instructed him to wait until his arrival to assess the situation. Employee #1 said that he could h andle the situation and he tried to tip the box back into place. While waiting f or the safety manager, Employee #1 had an asthma attack. When the safety manager arrived on site, he noticed that Employee #1 looked ill and immediately took hi m to the hospital. Employee #1 was hospitalized and treated for asthma and an ex tremely high blood sugar level. An investigation revealed that approximately one gallon of bleach had leaked from the container into the trailer.