OSHA Cites Thermal Polymer Systems For Texas Workplace Explosion Fatality

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Thermal Polymer Systems LC of Angleton, Texas, following an explosion inside a permit-required confined space that killed one worker and injured two others.  Mark Blevins, 56, died on Saturday, January 30th, 2010 as a result of injuries sustained in the Texas workplace accident.  All three workers affected by this accident were from Clute, Texas.

"This company exposed its workers to the hazards of confined space entry," said Mark Briggs, OSHA's area director for the Houston South Area Office. "In this case, the ventilation system was not on to remove the flammable and toxic vapors of the primer being used by the employees, and the internal atmosphere of the tank was not being monitored with a combustible gas meter to alert the employees that the atmosphere was becoming toxic and inflammable."

The fatal Texas industrial accident occurred when two workers were burned while applying primer inside a tanker trailer. One worker died and another remains hospitalized with burns to over 90 percent of his body. A third worker, the attendant monitoring the confined space in the event of an emergency, was blown off the tank when the vapors ignited.

The willful violations were for failing to eliminate and control hazardous atmospheres, such as flammable gas, through ventilation; complete confined space entry permits; use intrinsically safe lights in hazardous locations; and annually fit-test employees for respirator use. A willful violation is one where there was intentional disregard for safety and health.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director in Houston, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.