The state Department of Labor and Industries has cited and fined Ferrellgas of Auburn for the accidental electrocution of two employees last spring.
Scott Pigg, 25, of University Place, Pierce County and Mark Olson, 41, of Auburn, were moving propane tanks as part of the annual inventory in the gas tank storage yard at 3616 A St. SE on May 26 when the tip of the boom touched a 7,200-volt overhead power line owned by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, killing the two instantly.
According to the citation issued Nov. 12, the investigation found that the propane company had failed to anticipate the lethal danger that a high-voltage power line over its property would pose to its employees.
The citation also found the company had failed to ensure that “employees were trained and familiar with safety-related work practices in that the two employees were electrocuted by a crane contacting high-voltage lines in the absence of any work practices for doing inventory near overhead lines.”
According to the citation, Ferrellgas failed to ensure that employees kept at least 10 feet between any energized high-voltage lines and any equipment they were using, and neither did it seek to deactivate or insulate the power line, the investigation found.
The company was fined $8,400, according to the citation.
Improvements ordered
Among the called-for corrections, Ferrellgas must:
• Ensure that the crane operator has a valid operator certificate for the type of crane to be operated, issued by a crane operator testing organization accredited by a nationally-recognized accrediting agency. The certification must include a successful passing of a written and practical examination.
Ferrellgas hired Olson in January 2006 as a field-installation specialist who sets up propane tanks for customers. Pigg had been working for Ferrellgas as a material handler since July 2007. Labor and Industries spokesman Hector Castro said members of the company had already had taken measures to eliminate the chance of similar accidents by the time the citation was issued.
“They got rid of the crane and moved all the propane tanks away from the power lines,” Castro said. “They just hadn’t realized the hazard the power line posed. They were very cooperative throughout, from what I heard from the inspectors who were involved in the investigation. Actually, they were quite traumatized by the entire incident. There are only seven employees there, it’s a small outfit.
“I do know that the crane was taken out of service, and they were not going use it any more. One of the issues involved them doing a tank inventory beneath power line. After this happened, almost immediately the tanks were moved out of the location and away from hazards. They did a number of things before we cited them.”
