Cal/OSHA Cites Two Employers for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Incident at San Francisco Airport

 

PRESS RELEASE

Foster City– Cal/OSHA has cited two employers for serious accident-related health and safety violations after workers were poisoned by carbon monoxide in an enclosed space at San Francisco International Airport.

Two plumbers from Gladiator Rooter & Plumbing were working in a crawl space on December 22, 2018, replacing underground sewer pipes for airline caterer Gate Gourmet, Inc. Carbon monoxide gas was leaking from the facility, causing one of the workers to lose consciousness. Rescue workers helped the workers, but one of them had to stay in the hospital for two days.

“These workers were lucky because working in confined spaces can be deadly, especially when oxygen levels are reduced or deadly gases are present,” said Debra Lee, deputy chief of enforcement for Cal/OSHA. “Employers must identify and assess potential hazards before workers enter confined spaces so they can ensure workers are trained and a rescue plan is in place in the event of an emergency.”

Cal/OSHA’s investigation found that Gate Gourmet, Inc. did not inform Gladiator Rooter & Plumbing that the crawlspace was a permit-required confined space and failed to provide information about the potential hazards of entering of the room arise. Cal/OSHA also found that Gladiator Rooter & Plumbing did not have a safety and health program in place and did not train workers. Additionally, the employer did not develop a confined space program, take no hazard mitigation measures, and have no rescue plan.

Cal/OSHA charged Gladiator Rooter & Plumbing $50,850 for eight violations, including two serious accidental violations, two serious violations, and four general violations.

Major accident-related violations cited included the company’s failure to implement a permit-required confined space program and failure to train its employees to work safely in confined spaces. Major violations cited included the company’s failure to develop and implement a written permit room program and failure to obtain information about hazards to the permit room and make that information available to workers entering the room.

Cal/OSHA cited Gate Gourmet with proposed penalties of $18,000 for a serious accident-related violation for failing to communicate with Gladiator Rooter & Plumbing about confined space hazards and precautions.

A violation is classified as serious if there is a realistic likelihood that the actual danger created by the violation could result in death or serious harm, and violations are classified as accidental if the injury, illness or death is caused by the violation is caused.

Confined spaces are spaces that are large enough for worker entry but have limited openings for exit and entry, creating potential atmospheric and spatial hazards. They are found in numerous industries and include water and sewer pipes, boilers, silos, furnaces, vaults, tunnels and pumping stations.

Construction employers should read and follow the confined space guidelines found on pages 26-29 of the updated Cal/OSHA Construction Industry Pocket Manual. Cal/OSHA provides additional confined space resources to general industry employers.

All employers in California are required to have an effective written injury and illness prevention program, a safety program designed to identify, evaluate and control workplace hazards. Cal/OSHA has online tools and publications to help employers establish an effective safety program.

Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from workplace health and safety risks in nearly every workplace in California. Cal/OSHA’s Advisory Services Division provides free, voluntary assistance to employers in improving their health and safety programs. Employers should call (800) 963-9424 for assistance from Cal/OSHA Consultation Services.

Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIR’s call center at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734) in English or Spanish. The California Workers’ Information hotline at 866-924-9757 provides recorded information in English and Spanish on a variety of work-related topics. Complaints may also be submitted confidentially to Cal/OSHA district offices.

Members of the press may contact Peter Melton or Lucas Brown at (510) 286-1161 and are asked to sign up to receive email alerts for DIR press releases or other department updates.

Founded in 1927, the California Department of Industrial Relations protects and improves the health, safety and economic well-being of more than 18 million wage earners and assists their employers in complying with state labor laws. DIR is located within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. For general inquiries, contact DIR’s Communications Call Center at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734) for assistance in locating the appropriate department or program within our department.