Total-Western, Inc.: OSHA inspections and violations

Incident on Oct 3, 2022 (fatal): Employee falls from scaffold, later dies

At 1:15 p.m. on October 3, 2022, an employee and a coworker were performing repair work inside a sulfuric acid tank from a rolling scaffold near the center of the tank. Another coworker was performing safety attendant duties at the entry to the tank. All employees were wearing fall protection harnesses, hard hats, eye protection, ear protection, and gloves per the worksite's standard PPE requirements. The employees were working in a confined space and were implementing appropriate permit required activities. The confined space was well ventilated with forced air and the atmosphere within the tank was being monitored by the safety attendant. The employee was descending the scaffold when he fell approximately 20 feet to the bottom of the tank. The coworker in the tank heard a thud and looked down to see the employee laying at the base of the scaffold system. There were no issues with the set up of the rolling scaffold and the employee was not carrying anything at the time of his fall. The injuries suffered did not provide any evidence to support an attempt to break the employee's fall. This indicates the employee was most likely either unconscious or semi-conscious during the fall. The employee appears to have had a personal medical event while descending the scaffold. The employee suffered a head injury consistent with a fall onto a metal work surface from a height. The employee was admitted and treated at a local medical center, where he died on November 13, 2022.

Incident on Apr 6, 2021: Two employees incur burns during oil field service operation

At 9:12 a.m. on April 6, 2021, five Total-Western, Inc. (TWI) oil field service employees were assigned contract work at the Macpherson Oil Company LLC (MOC) lease located in Bakersfield, CA. The employees were tasked with replacing an 8" gate valve on a steam line near the section 12 Steam Generator. TWI employees were preparing to use an oxy-acetylene torch to remove bolts from the valve flanges. During this process, the seal between the valve flange and the pipe separated, releasing hot water and splashing two employees, a TWI welder (Employee #1) and the welder's apprentice (Employee #2), with residual hot liquid. Both employees sustained burns from the incident. Employee #1 suffered 2nd degree scald burns and 3rd degree burns to his right upper extremity forearm and torso, requiring surgical excision and skin grafting. Employee #2 suffered 2nd degree burns to his right upper extremity and bilateral lower extremities, also requiring surgical excision and skin grafting. Both employees were transported to a licensed health care physician for treatment, with Employee #1 later admitted to Bakersfield Memorial Hospital on April 9th and Employee #2 admitted on April 12th.

Incident on Mar 7, 2005: Employee is injured when struck by broken boom

At approximately 7:30 a.m. on March 7, 2005, Employee #1 and a coworker were rig ging the jib of a crane to the main boom for travel. The crane was a 25-Ton Mani tex Truck-mounted crane rented from Rough Terrain, Inc. The crane was inspected at another site. According to Employee #1, the crane came to site the day before to be used to pull out Travelling Screens at the NRG power plant. The crane ele ctrical and mechanical units did not operate together because the engine cuts of f when the boom goes out or when the outriggers are set out. They were able to p ull only one screen and never got the crane to run correctly. They decided to se nd back the crane. The next day, they moved the crane to the open yard to fold t he jib to the main boom because this is the required position of the jib for tra vel. Employee was positioned by the operating controls while the mechanic was by the tip of the boom. The mechanic took out the left two pins connecting the jib to the boom. This would allows the jib to swing right and fold to the boom. Ano ther pin by the boom would catch the tip of the jib and would lock this in place , but the jib did not line up. Employee #1 retracted the boom and locked the jib . Just then, the jib dropped on his head and crushed him. There was nothing abov e to protect him from the falling jib. The investigation showed that a third pin by the right side of the jib was not in place. This must have been taken out af ter the jib was folded. Employee #1 sustained multiple fractures and lost mobili ty on both legs. He was hospitalized.

Incident on Oct 12, 2001 (fatal): Employee electrocuted servicing pump at shipping facility

On October 12, 2001, Employee #1 was working at the high voltage Motor Control C enter at the THUMS Broadway & Mitchell (B & M) Oil Shipping Facility. He arrived at the site at about 12:30 p.m. in response to a trouble call from the Unit For eman regarding a malfunction at pump #G19. He initially went to the Unit Foreman 's office to discuss the problem with him and with the Unit Operator. Employee # 1 told them that he wanted to check one thing and left the office; as a result, the Unit Operator did not start the pump. Employee #1 did not tell anyone where he was going, but at approximately 1:05 p.m., three coworkers nearby pump #G19 h eard a bang. They went to investigate and saw Employee #1 walk out from the high voltage Motor Control Center and then collapse. The Unit Foreman was immediatel y contacted and he called Emergency Services. Employee #1 was treated by paramed ics but could not be revived. The County Coroner's office confirmed the cause of death as electrocution and reported that "burn" marks were found on his forearm s. Subsequenet investigation revealed that Employee #1 was injured approximately 8 to 10 minutes after leaving the Unit Foreman's office. The outer and inner do ors of the #G19 motor control center were found open immediately after the accid ent and the #G19 motor controller was energized. According to the employer, the inner door interlock was not working after the accident. Employee #1 was not wea ring any high voltage gloves nor were any approrpiate hazard gloves found at the scene. In addition, he did not have a "hot stick," or voltage tester with him, and he was working alone near high voltage equipment.