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Oct 4, 2007 11:20 pm US/Mountain
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OSHA Interviews Surviving Workers From Plant Fire
by Rick Sallinger
GEORGETOWN, Colo. (CBS4) ―
Federal investigators are interviewing the four workers who survived the accident at the Xcel Energy hydroelectric plant that resulted in the death of five of their colleagues. They are trying to determine exactly what happened.
The surviving members of the crew have been telling their stories of the events to investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
"Our interview and any interview we do privately to determine what the facts are and what occurred at the site," Herb Gibson with OSHA said.
Gibson said company management is not present during the interview.
The five men died when the heater from an epoxy thinner was inadvertently turned on inside the pipe. It's believed they were overcome by smoke and fumes.
OSHA will try to determine if any of its regulations were violated such as the availability of respirators to the workers underground. They will also investigate to see if a gas monitor was used and if the ventilation pipe was tested.
Xcel Energy was also being questioned in the investigation. It contracted with RPI Coating of California for the work, a company that has a history of OSHA violations, including the deaths of two people.
The investigation is expected to take several months. The Chemical Safety Board is also conducting its own investigation.
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