Worker who died in Atwater Village industrial accident was trying to aid colleagues

One worker died Friday morning after trying to help two unconscious colleagues overcome by ethanol fumes as they cleaned blood plasma from a container at an Atwater Village pharmaceutical company.

The two others were in grave condition at a hospital, and the identity of the deceased worker at Baxter Healthcare, 4501 W. Colorado Blvd., was not released, pending notification of next of kin, said Los Angeles Fire Chief Jaime Moore.

Moore said firefighters and paramedics arriving on the scene shortly before 4 a.m. found two men collapsed inside the container and a third outside, also unconscious. They recognized the threat from the fumes and donned protective clothing and breathing apparatuses, then rushed in to remove the men from the container.

“Were it not for the actions they took when they got on scene, all three would be dead,” Moore said.

The workers were using detergent to clean the container of blood plasma. They were overcome by ethanol, which was used as a separating agent for blood plasma, Moore said.

The worker outside the container had called 911 and went in to help his unconscious colleagues from the container, but was himself overcome by the fumes, Moore said.

-- Sam Quinones

Photo: KTLA

Comments

[Al Ford]

This is weird..are there no procedures for something so dangerous?

Perhaps the workers hadn't been trained for this?

[Cameron Gieda]

Profits before Safety - a simple personal gas detection device should be use in confined spaces. It would have saved their lives.

[Cage]

This is sad, trying to save his friends and died in the process.

[Gem]

My deepest condolences to his family. I hope Cal Osha looks into it and makes the needed improvements at the company to ensure that a life is never lost again.

[Steve]

There ARE extensive regulations for this: Called 'Confined Space Entry' - must have very detailed procedures, specific equipment, air monitoring, rescue procedures, extensive training, an internal entry 'permit', etc. etc.

This accident is what happens when the regulations, procedures or training are not followed. Typically - the first guy in the tank goes down... the second guy goes in to rscue him (who is likely already dead), and HE goes down (and dies), the third guys goes in. etc. etc.

Quick political note to the far right: see? not all rules and regulations are bad - even though they may impart a cost to implement.

[Just saying]

Very sad. I bet the workers were taking a short cut in safety. At 4 am, no big brass around so if you can save some time many workers will not follow procedures.

[Tammy]

Most employees are trained and certified when working in confined spaces. The first rule is to NEVER go in after anyone...you should call for help and wait to give the info to rescue workers when they arrive. So sad...thoughts and prayers go out to the families involved in this.

[Katy]

very sad.. LIFE-- THAT POOR GUY WASN'T EVEN IN THE CONTAINER. HE WAS HELPING!! OMG.. my deepest condolences to his family!!

But glad to hear that my friends husbands that do work there are ok.

[Flamenco]

So sorry for the victims and their families. Praying the other two survive. God bless the coworker's soul who tried to save them. Truly selfless.

[alex]

I completely agree with Gem, Cal Osha needs to investigate! and theres a lawsuite from the descedents family now. Sad taht he gave up his own life to help others. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

[Mary Berkley]

Please refrain from judging before all the information is available. I worked at the facility for over 20 years and the workers are trained and they value safety of employees above all else. To imply that they put profit above the safety of the employees is wrong. This is a tragedy that should not have happened but I believe that the company will do all that is possible to insure it never happens again.

[Whiffed]

Baxter is too large a company not to have trained and prepared these workers for this type of incident. This is inexcusable, and the company is fully responsible. These types of products are used at hundreds of companies around Los Angeles without incident, because they are recognized as hazardous and the correct training and tools are provided to the workers. How this could occur makes no sense to me.

[monica]

Simply put, this man is a Hero. May he rest in peace and may his loved ones know that their beloved died in the most noblest of ways, trying to save another's life.

What a tragedy.

[jazz]

Shame on the pharamaceutical company. Why weren't the workers provided and required to wear masks while working with such hazardous chemicals and materials?

My deepest condolances to the families of the workers.

[Doug Gavilanes]

I hope that Cal-OSHA imposes the full weight of the law upon this company (now that Jerry Brown is governor, he should personally monitor this case to its conclusion). The workers should have been provided, and trained in the use of appropriate protective gear, which they should have been wearing and using, and a confined space monitor should have been in use (which would have alarmed when the inside atmosphere became dangerous/unsafe), and safety watch personnel should have been positioned immediately outside the enclosed space to monitor the workers inside continuously for their safety, and for notification of emergency services, if an emergency had arisen. One or more of these conditions must not have existed, for this accident to have occurred, and that responsibility lays squarely on the shoulders of the employer, who is required by law to provide all necessary equipment, training, and support personnel to ensure worker safety. God Bless the affected workers and their families.

[Tom]

Steve, you're a fool. "The far right" doesn't want their workers to die or be injured on the job, and are in favor of sensible regulation. I would assume that with a large company such as this that either their protective gear was faulty or inadequate (company negligence or employee maintenence negligence) or the employees became lax and failed to follow proper procedure (employee negligence). In either case, their injuries are tragic and steps should be taken to minimize the risk of this occurring again. Companies in industries with similar risk will be reawakened through this tragedy to update their equipment, procedures and to rehearse their employees to manage such emergencies.

[roneida]

To commentator 'Steve" who sees this tragedy as a vast right wing conspiracy, How do you know the men weren't trained and equipped and just decided they knew better and it would only take a second??? You seem to be blinded by socialist dogma in reflectively, immediately blaming the huge impersonal corporation. Do you have any idea what this will cost the plant.
Have you b een so brainwashed that you believe companies enjoy killing employees?? Who taught you this nonsense.?

I have been a safety manager for years, and at least 95% of fatalities were self induced by testosterone poisoning or stupidity. I have never seen a person killed or maimed that did not ignore his training.

Check your premis before making politically baiting B S.

[Truthsayer]

The assumptions by many here seem to think profits or the company is responsible. Maybe, but since we don't have all the facts, it's ignorant to state those were the causes.

It's quite possible the workers didn't follow accepted safety practices. I'm not blaming them, we just don't know yet. Typically, if you are cleaning out tanks, you are required to have a confined space entry permit and training.

Unlike the stereo type, the vast majority of companies have strict rules for confined space entry, train their employees and are serious about safety. My neighbor, who is a great guy, was just fired for violating safety rules at a company. They don't tolerate stupid decisions that put you or others in jeopardy.

I'm in many businesses because of my work in communications systems. I have been in this facility in the past. Baxter is concerned about employees and they demonstrate it by their actions. Training, equipment, management are all based around safety first. They follow the saying "safety isn't expensive, it's priceless".

OSHA needs to investigate, and we need to identify causes and corrective actions, but in a thoughtful, rational manner.

BTW, Steve's post is exactly right with one exception. The far Right does not think all rules and regulations are bad.

Because men are not angels, government is necessary. It should be small & limited in power for the same reason.

[unknown]

rest in peace my friend you were loved..ur goddautgher will miss u

[rob]

If it were not for GW Bush, they would all be alive.

[sacatorod]

Let's wait for the investigation before we judge. There a number things that can go wrong; even if you follow the regulations (e.g., hypersensitivities to chemicals).

[JD]

I agree with Cameron, and in this case they make 15 minute emergency escape SCBA to aid the employees in case of an event like this.

Gem, a lot of the time the employees take the risk and do not think of the consequence. They probably have had hours upon hours of training to perform there scope of work. In most confined space fatalities, there are usually two victims, the one in the confined space and the other the rescuer. Not that I am ok with this, this is just the case in about 60% of confined space fatalities.

My condolences to the families.

[Far Right]

Note to Steve regarding your comment, "Quick political note to the far right: see? not all rules and regulations are bad - even though they may impart a cost to implement."

Some guy died trying to save two people and all you can think of are regulations and picking on the far right. Get a life and take your political blog attitude somewhere else.

[Sean]

Sadly that's not what happen this morning... what is being said is an extra official assumption of what might it happen. We have to wait for the official statement from the parts involved.

My condolences to the family of the guy who died. We will remember you.

[lwps]

This is the most common kind of industrial accident. There is simply no excuse for it.