Quemetco, Inc.: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Oct 15, 2004 (fatal): Two employees killed in a pit when crushed by falling object

At approximately 9:45 a.m. on October 15, 2004, Employee #1 and Employee #2, mai ntenance mechanics, were performing some welding and repair work on the dock lev eler inside a dock-pit, 13 in. high by 70 in. wide by 84 in long, below a ramp p late, approximately 1500 pounds. The dock's electric power was deenergized and h ydraulic hoses were disconnected prior to repair work. In the absence of power, a chain sling and a crane were used to lift the ramp plate upwards so that they could crawl under and work inside the dock-pit. They were lying on the leveler u nit inside the pit horizontally with their backs up and their heads down facing west when the ramp plate fell on their backs. Employee #1 died in the pit and Em ployee #2 was hospitalized and died later.

Incident on Mar 25, 2004: Employee's finger is amputated while moving a drum

At about 1:00 a.m. on March 25, 2004, Employee #1, a refinery operator at a plan t where lead is recycled from car batteries, was moving a 55-gallon drum contain ing caustic soda. The employee moved the drums with his hands to have clearance so he could remove the lid and open the drum. In the process, his left little fi nger and ring finger became crushed between the drum and a wall, causing the amp utation of his little finger.

Incident on Mar 28, 2000: Employee injured when battery falls on him

At approximately 2:20 p.m. on March 28, 2000, Employee #1 was removing a cover f rom a 2-ton battery. The batteries in this area were improperly double-stacked. A battery fell on Employee #1's leg causing a right fibular fracture, right dist al fracture of the tibia, and abrasions. Employee #1 was hospitalized.

Incident on Jul 6, 1996: Employee's foot injured when run over by forklift

Employee #1, of Quemetco, Inc., was operating a crane while his back was to a co worker driving a forklift. The forklift driver backed up approximately 20 ft wit hout looking in the direction of travel. The frame of the forklift ran onto Empl oyee #1's right heel and knocked him down. The weight of the forklift caused his heel to bend, resulting in a broken metatarsal in his right foot.

Incident on Dec 13, 1995: Employee burned when molten lead erupts

Employee #1 of Quemetco, Inc., added lead block to a melting pot and then backed up his forklift. The pot of molten lead started to erupt, and he got off his fo rklift and attempted to leave the area. Employee #1 was showered with molten lea d, sustaining second- and third-degree burns to his back, buttocks, and left leg . He was neither experienced nor trained in this specific operation.

Incident on Nov 30, 1993: Employee injured in explosion while heating casting pipe

At about 1:45 a.m. on November 30, 1993, a gas explosion occurred at Quemtco, In c., when Employee #1 aimed a make-shift gas torch toward the inside of kettle #3 where gas vapor had accumulated when another make-shift gas torch was left earl ier by a fellow employee. The employer is engaged in lead extraction from salvag ed auto batteries. Employee #1 has been working with the company as a refinery o perator since 1988. On the day of the accident, Employee #1 noticed that the pum p pipe was frozen and that lead was not flowing into the molds. He took a gas to rch and heated the pump pipe, after which he thought of heating the casting pipe , and that resulted in the gas explosion. The employer was cited for violation o f T8 CCR 3329(b) and referred to T8 CCR 3328(a) (serious--use of sub-standard eq uipment).

Incident on Jan 12, 1992: Employee bruised after falling through rotted ceiling

At 9:15 a.m. on February 12, 1992, Employee #1 was supervising a work crew that was repairing holes in the 35 ft high roof of a brick storage building. Employee #1 was walking around directing what had to be done when he fell through a rott ed panel. He bounced off a 10 ft tall plastic covered stack of bricks, which bro ke his fall. Employee #1 sustained bruises on his back and was taken to Queen of the Valley Hospital, where he was examined and released the same day. Had he wo rn a safety belt with a safety line, Employee #1's accident would not have happe ned.