VIDEO Des Moines tank company fined 166K by Labor Industries after explosions injure workers

Calhoun Tanks & Services, Inc. , a Des Moines-based tank servicing company, is confronting fines totaling $166,423 from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries after two explosions during a propane tank inspection injured two workers. The company has been cited for multiple safety violations, including a willful serious violation, indicating a blatant disregard for essential safety protocols. During the inspection of an 18,000-gallon underground propane tank, workers cut into the piping, which released flammable gas into a nearby area, leading to an initial explosion that fortunately did not injure anyone. Despite this frightening incident, the company continued operations without modifying its safety measures, resulting in a second explosion that left one worker with burns covering 30% of his body.

This worker spent over a month in intensive care, while another was treated for less severe injuries. Craig Blackwood, assistant director for L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, emphasized the employer's negligence, stating that the workers will carry lifelong scars due to the company's failure to maintain safety standards. The ongoing appeal by Calhoun aims to contest the citation, but funds from any collected fines will contribute to the state’s workers’ compensation supplemental pension fund, aiding injured workers and their families. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of rigorous safety protocols in high-risk industries, where the consequences of negligence can be dire.