Inspection Detail

Note: The following inspection has not been indicated as closed. OSHA citation items will be posted 30 (thirty) days after the employer receives the citation(s), except in cases of significant public interest. Posted citation items reflect any amendments to citations that are the result of a prompt settlement, which OSHA encourages. Employers and employee representatives will continue to receive copies of the citation(s) upon issuance.

Inspection: 1242614.015 - Wilson Maintenance & Services, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 6:58 p.m. on Friday, June 23, 2017, an employee was using Jasco Premium Paint and Epoxy Remover to remove the old glaze from the bath tub. The employee had arrived at the second floor apartment at approximately 9:00 a.m., and told the occupants to leave because of the toxic chemicals and smell. The employee went into the bathroom and closed the door behind him and locked the door at some point. The only ventilation in the 7 by 5 by 8.25 foot bathroom was a small window over the tub/shower enclosure, and the employee did not put on a respirator. At 6:15 p.m., the occupant of the apartment checked on him, got no response, the door was locked, and called the police. The paramedics kicked open the door and found the employee kneeling on the floor with his torso in the bathtub. Rigor mortis had set in with no signs of trauma or injuries. The employee was killed, apparently due to the inhalation of methylene chloride in the paint stripper he was using.

Keywords: Asphyxiated, Chemical, Inhalation, Methylene Chloride, Toxic Atmosphere