Inspection Detail

Inspection: 313647752 - Los Angeles Department Of Water And Power

Inspection Information - Office: Long Beach District Office

Investigation Summary

On March 25, 203, Employee #1, a 61-year-old male, grounds keeper and gardener with Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was observed earlier in the day by witnesses, pulling weeds in the general area of Haynes Hydroelectric Generating Station in Long Beach California. Employee #1's shift was scheduled to be over by 2:30 p.m. and when he did not return home the family became concerned and at around 11:00 p.m. the family contacted the Plant Control Operator at Haynes Generation Station. Employee #1's personal car was located in the parking lot and a search of the grounds was initiated. It is noted from one of the witness statements that the interior dome light of Employee #1's personal car had been left on. Employee #1's hardhat and cellphone was located on the embankment and Long Beach Police arrived on scene about that time in response to a missing person report. Long Beach Police discovered the body of Employee #1 in the circulating water channel, against a containment buoy servicing pumps number 83 and number 84 on the east side of the facility. Employee #1 was found deceased and floating in a recirculating water inlet channel of a hydroelectric generating station. A bag half filled with pulled weeds; Employee #1's hardhat and his cellphone were located on a gravel embankment to a water inlet channel. The water was pumped to the turbines in the plant to effect radiant cooling. Employee #1 was examined by the Los Angeles County Coroner and the conclusion drawn from the report was that the cause of death was drowning and the manner of death was listed as accidental. There was no mention of head contusions or trauma and it stated that there were no indications of significant trauma internal or external. It was determined that Employee #1 did not know how to swim. Employee #1's job duties included gardening activities and his immediate supervisor was at the site at the time of the incident. It was determined that Employee #1's work on and around the east side of the water recirculating pipes did expose Employee #1 to the hazard of drowning. It was also determined that Employee #1 was not wearing and had not been provided with a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device; nor that at least one U.S. Coast Guard approved 30- inch life ring with not less than 90 feet of 600 pound capacity line attached was provided and kept in a conveniently accessible place where the employee's work presented exposure to the hazard of drowning. 8 CCR 3389 (a) states: "At least one U.S. Coast Guard approved 30-inch life ring with not less than 90 feet of 600 pound capacity line attached shall be kept in a conveniently accessible place where employees work exposes them to the hazard of drowning or each employee so exposed shall wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device."

Keywords: PPE, DROWN, LIFE JACKET, UNTRAINED