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    SME Steel Contractors

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    KUTV 2News
    On November 18, 2022, two ironworkers (IEs) were injured when an aerosol can of spray paint exploded in a job site conex structure at the Salt Lake City Airport expansion construction site. One IE suffered severe burns while attempting to remove the can, which had been left next to a portable propane heater inside the conex. An investigation found that a supervisor had improperly stored several cans of spray paint in the conex, leaving one can near the heater. Employee interviews revealed concerns about the supervisor's lack of experience. However, the employer was able to provide documentation showing an effective safety program, discipline for safety violations, and that the supervisor's actions violated company policies, supporting an employee misconduct

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    SME Steel Contractors

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    KUTV 2News
    2K views5 pages
    On November 18, 2022, two ironworkers (IEs) were injured when an aerosol can of spray paint exploded in a job site conex structure at the Salt Lake City Airport expansion construction site. One IE suffered severe burns while attempting to remove the can, which had been left next to a portable propane heater inside the conex. An investigation found that a supervisor had improperly stored several cans of spray paint in the conex, leaving one can near the heater. Employee interviews revealed concerns about the supervisor's lack of experience. However, the employer was able to provide documentation showing an effective safety program, discipline for safety violations, and that the supervisor's actions violated company policies, supporting an employee misconduct

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    SME Steel Contractors

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    On November 18, 2022, two ironworkers (IEs) were injured when an aerosol can of spray paint exploded in a job site conex structure at the Salt Lake City Airport expansion construction site. One IE suffered severe burns while attempting to remove the can, which had been left next to a portable propane heater inside the conex. An investigation found that a supervisor had improperly stored several cans of spray paint in the conex, leaving one can near the heater. Employee interviews revealed concerns about the supervisor's lack of experience. However, the employer was able to provide documentation showing an effective safety program, discipline for safety violations, and that the supervisor's actions violated company policies, supporting an employee misconduct

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    2K views5 pages

    SME Steel Contractors

    Uploaded by

    KUTV 2News
    On November 18, 2022, two ironworkers (IEs) were injured when an aerosol can of spray paint exploded in a job site conex structure at the Salt Lake City Airport expansion construction site. One IE suffered severe burns while attempting to remove the can, which had been left next to a portable propane heater inside the conex. An investigation found that a supervisor had improperly stored several cans of spray paint in the conex, leaving one can near the heater. Employee interviews revealed concerns about the supervisor's lack of experience. However, the employer was able to provide documentation showing an effective safety program, discipline for safety violations, and that the supervisor's actions violated company policies, supporting an employee misconduct

    Copyright:

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    of 5

    NARRATIVE

    Employer Name SME Steel Contractors, Inc. Inspection #: 1635237

    Opening Narrative
    On November 21, 2022 a Utah Occupational Safety & Health (UOSH) Compliance Safety and Health Officer
    (CSHO) Laurie O’Connor conducted an accident investigation at the construction site for Salt Lake City Airport
    expansion, Phase III, 3920 W 900 N, Salt Lake City, UT. An opening conference was held concurrently with
    SME Steel Contractors and the general contractor, Holder Construction dba Holder-Big-D Joint Venture. SME
    Steel representatives were , VP-Safety; , Regional Safety Manager; and ,
    Project Manager. SME Steel employees are represented by Ironworkers Local 27, and the Union was
    represented at the Opening Conference by , VP Field Operations and , Area
    Superintendent. The general contractor was represented by , Safety director; ,
    Superintendent; , Senior Superintendent; , Senior Superintendent; and
    , Superintendent. Credentials were presented and all opening conference topics were discussed and
    marked on the Inspection Checklist.
    Inspection Narrative
    On November 18, 2022 at approximately 9:45 am, the two IEs (injured employees), who are ironworkers,
    entered a job site conex structure to get more welding wire. A portable propane heater was inside the conex,
    as employees can take warm-up breaks in the conex. The IEs noticed an aerosol can of spray paint inside an
    open metal bucket next to the propane heater. Recognizing the hazard, one of the IEs picked up the can to
    remove it from the heat source, and the can exploded. The IE holding the can received severe burns to his
    hand and neck. The other IE received less severe burns, but his eyes were injured. Emergency Services was
    called, and both IEs were transported by EMS to the University of Utah Hospital Burn Center. The IE who
    picked up the can was diagnosed with second and third degree burns and admitted. The second IE was
    diagnosed with minor burns, and released with a follow-up for eye injuries. The accident was reported to
    UOSH on November 18, 2022 at 3:10 pm.

    The CSHO conducted a walk around inspection with all those attending the opening conference.
    , Site Safety for SME Steel, joined the walk-around. The scene was held for CSHO’s arrival, and the
    CSHO observed cones and rope around the conex, and a secure lock on the door.

    Rev 3/26/15
    Inside the conex, the CSHO observed visible signs of an explosion, including burn/smoke marks, broken glass
    and bent cage metal from a ceiling light fixture, what was left of the exploded can, the burned metal can, and
    the burned propane heater.

    Portable propane heater Metal can

    Rev 3/26/15
    Blackened box of welding wire Remnants of the paint can

    The CSHO was shown two hazardous materials cabinets next to the conex where the spray paint had
    presumably been stored.

    The information gathered by SME Steel prior to the CSHO’s arrival was as follows. A SME Steel Supervisor,
    who was fired after the incident, removed several cans of Rust-Oleum Hard Hat Cold Galvanized Compound (a
    high performance rust preventative) from a hazardous chemicals cabinet, and placed the cans into a bucket
    next to the propane heater to warm up. The temperatures have been below freezing, and the Rust-Oleum is
    to be used at 50 degrees F or higher. Sometime after the cans warmed up, the Supervisor removed all cans
    except one. This can remained next to the propane heater for approximately 2 hours. When the IEs
    discovered the leftover can and went to remove it, it had heated to an unsafe temperature, and exploded
    when it was moved.
    Rev 3/26/15
    OSHA 300 logs were requested and provided.
    The following documents were provided by the company:
    Haz-comm Program cover sheet and SDS sheet for the Rust-Oleum spray
    Injury photos
    Incident report
    Responsible employee’s new hire training on safety policies and procedures and termination paperwork
    Samples of weekly safety meetings
    Site-specific Safety Plan
    Injury Prevention Program
    Employee Interviews:
    The CSHO returned conducted employee interviews. There were no Witnesses other than IE #1 and IE #2.
    Employee #1 said that the company is very safety conscious and conducts safety meetings daily.
    Employee #2 said that the job site is very safe, and both his employer and the general contractor conduct daily
    and weekly safety meetings.
    Employees #1 and #2 were conducted in the presence of Union Representative, .

    IE #1 was interviewed by phone on November 28, 2022. IE#1 said that he and IE#2 ran out of welding wire,
    and went to the conex to retrieve a new box of wire. While in the conex IE #1 and #2 both saw the bucket
    with the spray paint inside the bucket next to the propane heater. Both IEs recognized the hazard, and IE #2
    picked up the can out of the bucket to remove it from the heat source. The can exploded almost immediately.
    IE #2 was between IE #1 and the exploding can. IE #1 received some minor burns, but chemicals entered his
    eyes, and he is receiving treatment for eye injuries. IE #1 said that he had on safety glasses, but still suffered
    eye injuries. IE #1 said that he had been told that “ ” had put the cans into the bucket and left the one can
    in the bucket. IE #1 said that was very inexperienced, but was hired as a supervisor. IE #1 said that
    told him he had never “thrown deck” before. IE #1 said that he had wondered how such an inexperienced
    employee could be hired for a supervisory position. IE#1 said that he was not surprised that had caused
    an accident because was so inexperienced. IE #1 said that the only interaction he had with that day
    was at the morning safety meeting.
    IE #2 was interviewed by phone on November 29, 2022. IE #2 said that his task for the accident day was to
    weld bent plate on the north side of the building. After working for approximately two hours, IE #2 and IE #1
    went into the conex to get more welding wire. When IE #2 and IE #1 entered the conex, they quickly noticed
    the paint can inside the bucket next to the propane heater. The propane heater was close to the conex door
    for proper ventilation. IE #2 picked up the box of wire and the paint can. IE #2 said that the can was in his
    hand for just a few seconds before it exploded. IE #2 said that his safety vest was on fire from the explosion,
    and he suffered second degree burns to his hands and face, and third degree burns to the hand holding the
    Rev 3/26/15
    paint can. IE #2 said that the responsible employee (“ ”- ) made him nervous. was
    young (22 years old) and had gone from Apprentice to Supervisor by skipping “a bunch” of steps in career
    progression. IE #2 said that he thiks there was some politics involved for to be hired as a Supervisor. IE
    #2 said that his only contact with on the day of the accident was at the daily morning meeting.
    The Supervisor employee responsible for creating the hazardous condition never responded to the CSHO for
    an interview.

    After conducting employee interviews, and reviewing company documentation, the employee misconduct
    defense was discussed with . The CSHO detailed the necessary documentation to prove employee
    misconduct. The CSHO followed up with an emailed list of required documentation, and a deadline given. The
    documents were provided by the deadline.

    The company provided documentation of the site-specific safety program. As a Supervisor,


    had a higher responsibility to comply with safety policies and ensure that employee complied with the safety
    policies. was trained on all policies and the Haz-comm Program. Relevant policies include
    keeping flammable liquids in closed containers when not actually in use and correcting unsafe conditions
    when observed. The company also provided a copy of its progressive discipline program and examples of
    employees disciplined for breaking safety rules, which included the termination of . The
    company provided sufficient documentation of proactive discovery of policy/safety violations. The company
    provided daily safety audits conducted by , Site Safety Supervisor, and , Regional
    Safety Manager.
    The documentation provided by the employer does support their employee misconduct defense.
    On December 7, 2022, the CSHO reviewed the documents with Safety Supervisor, A Zampedri, who agreed
    with this determination.

    See Inspection #1635417 for Holder Construction dba Holder-Big-D Joint Venture for additional information.

    Closing Narrative
    On December 7, 2022, the CSHO held a Closing Conference with . All applicable closing conference
    items were discussed and marked on the Inspection Checklist.

    --FILE ONLY--

    Rev 3/26/15

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