Cal/OSHA Cites Explosives Manufacturer for Workplace
Explosion that Caused Serious Injuries
Hollister—Cal/OSHA
has cited explosives manufacturer Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials
Company $293,235 for multiple serious and willful accident-related workplace
safety violations following an investigation of an explosion in Hollister that
seriously injured a worker.
On December 1, 2016, a
technician was preparing explosives in metal tubing, known as Small Column
Insulated Delays (SCIDs), for neutron radiation analysis. She had mounted 79
SCIDs onto aluminum support brackets attached to an aluminum metal tray. While
attempting to apply tape to secure the SCIDs to the tray, 75 of the 79 tubes
exploded. The explosion sent metal shrapnel flying in all directions, seriously
injuring the technician.
Cal/OSHA inspectors
determined that Pacific Scientific failed to take the steps necessary to
protect the worker from explosive hazards. The willful serious violations
included the employer’s failure to:
- Protect the employee’s workstation from the explosive tubes in the holder, despite Pacific Scientific’s own manufacturing procedures that require the use of a safety shield when working with the loaded holders.
- Identify, evaluate and control hazards associated with handling the explosive tubes during their manufacture.
- Provide clear written instructions on how to mount the SCIDs safely to a metal tray for required analysis.
“This explosives
manufacturer put employees at risk by failing to follow their own safety
procedures, and unfortunately a worker was seriously injured,” said Cal/OSHA
Chief Juliann Sum.
As a result of the
inspection following the 2016 accident, Cal/OSHA cited Pacific Scientific
Energetic Materials Company for nine workplace safety and health violations,
three of them in the willful-serious category with four serious and two
general.
A willful violation is
issued where evidence shows that the employer committed an intentional and
knowing violation—as distinguished from inadvertent, accidental or ordinarily
negligent—and the employer was conscious of the fact that what it was doing constituted
a violation, or was aware that a hazardous condition existed and made no
reasonable effort to eliminate the hazard.
A serious violation is cited
when there was a realistic possibility that death or serious physical harm
could result from the actual hazardous condition.
This is not the first time
Pacific Scientific has been cited for neglecting their workers’ safety. In a
2007 explosion accident, an employee suffered serious burns and needed to be
airlifted to intensive care. Cal/OSHA issued general citations for lack of
required body protection and serious citations regarding the manufacturer’s
lack of a safety plan. More recently, a 2015 accident caused another serious
injury. Again, Cal/OSHA citations noted a failure to identify a hazardous practice
safety plan.
Cal/OSHA’s PSM Unit is
responsible for inspecting refineries and chemical plants that handle large
quantities of toxic and flammable materials. Health and safety standards
enforced by the PSM Unit, including adequate worker training and participation,
are intended to prevent catastrophic explosions, fires, and releases of
dangerous chemicals, which could harm workers.
Cal/OSHA helps protect
workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in
California. Cal/OSHA’s
Consultation Services Branch provides free and voluntary assistance to
employers and employee organizations to improve their health and safety
programs. Employers should call (800) 963-9424 for assistance from Cal/OSHA
Consultation Services.
Established in 1975, PacSci EMC manufactures a wide range of pyrotechnic devices in support of fire suppression systems on commercial and military aircraft. You may view a detailed outline here of the many companies forming PacSci EMC’s legacy of pyrotechnic energetic materials solutions.
In 1998, PacSci EMC was acquired by Danaher. The Danaher Business System (DBS, a focused management approach to continuous improvement of all processes) facilitated the integration of each distinct company into one PacSci EMC that is focused on world-class excellence in customer satisfaction. In July 2016, Danaher separated into two independent, publicly traded companies: Danaher and Fortive. Fortive is now a focused industrial growth company driving innovation in the areas of field instrumentation, transportation, sensing, product realization, automation and specialty, and franchise distribution. As an operating company of Fortive’s product realization group, PacSci EMC offers the most comprehensive product lines, engineering expertise and manufacturing capabilities to provide energetic material solutions across all system platforms.