The blockage burst and rained down molten slag upon them. Our office is proud to have partnered with DOJs Environmental Crimes Section to shine a light on this willful violation of OSHA safety standards in order to deter such conduct and ensure that workers are protected in the future., This investigation demonstrates the FBIs unyielding commitment to the mission of protecting the American people and upholding the United States Constitution, said Special Agent in Charge David Walker for FBI Tampa Field Office. Tampa Bay.comconfirmed that of the four victims, 2 of them were a father and his step-son. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the families of everyone who was touched by this incident, said Gordon Gillete, president and CEO of Tampa Electric. MTN Mobile Services We support women groups, with loans and coaching them to build strong businesses, Western Union Transfer with Bonzali Rural Bank, MoneyGram Transfer with Bonzali Rural Bank. Photos, along with reports from WFLA, confirm that a helicopter was used to airlift victims: 2nd person being flown to Tampa General Hospital from Big Bend Power Station near Apollo Beach https://t.co/vKjbbP1MPD pic.twitter.com/MZ1wmXOkVn, A tweet from the official Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office Twitter account said fire rescue crews were in rescue mode.. Deputies say the wife of one of the fatality victims, a 60-year-old man from Riverview, requested his name not be released to the public. This is part of the companys large-scale solar power initiative that calls for a total of 600 MW of new solar power to be operational at photovoltaic sites around the Tampa Bay area by 2023. /marketintelligence/en/news-insights/trending/uoevC-T5MX3Y5WV9v6Lxvg2 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ", List of largest power stations in the United States, "Existing Electric Generating Units in the United States, 2008", "TECO floating solar array next great thing in renewable energy", "OSHA: Tampa Electric ignored its own rules in accident that killed 5 workers", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Big_Bend_Power_Station&oldid=1089638362, Buildings and structures in Hillsborough County, Florida, Wikipedia articles in need of updating from April 2022, All Wikipedia articles in need of updating, Infobox mapframe without OSM relation ID on Wikidata, Thermal power station articles using Infobox power station, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 24 May 2022, at 22:28. Copyright 2022 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Underneath the furnaces were water-filled tanks designed to catch and cool the molten slag by-product that drips down from the furnace. [6], Location of the Big Bend Power Station in Florida. 1. The FBI and the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General investigated the case. This Quiz Reveals Your Extrovert Personality Type! We want to make sure we get every detail right in this investigation to make sure we know exactly what happened, to make sure it doesn't happen again.". [3] In 1986, TECO set aside a manatee viewing area which is accessible to the public.[4]. Photo courtesy of Hillsborough County Fire Rescue. 2. Live market coverage co-anchored from Hong Kong and New York. The Big Bend Power Plant in Apollo Beach, Fla., south of Tampa, where two people were killed in an explosion on Thursday. Mattel plans SpaceX toys, FL man shoots at neighbor who crashed car into house, Polk Co. needs 100 poll workers for August primary, Tampa mom, daughter release geeky kids book, FL girl found dead after child walks mile for help, North Port couple drops backpack with nearly a pound, How Florida chose who gets $450 per child checks, Human remains unearthed at Florida construction site, $450 per child checks sent out to Florida families, Murder victim, 11, hid bat under sheets scared of, Man accused of operating drug house at pizza restaurant. Directly to the southeast of Big Bend Power Station, Tampa Electrics 23 MW photovoltaic array features more than 200,000 thin-film solar panels. The clean, warm-water discharge at the station that provides a sanctuary for manatees at the adjacent Manatee Viewing Center will remain. esgSubNav, Discover more about S&P Globals offerings, Differentiated Data to Make Informed Decisions, New Corporate Realities: Blending Geopolitics, Data, and Digital Transformation, ARIA Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada. This will take cooperation, understanding, and effort from all parties. According to TECO Energy, the scrubber system removes 95% of sulfur dioxide from all four units. A natural gas and fuel oil-fired peaking unit was added eight years ago. Jacobs said the cause of the accident remains under investigation. All of the other victims were contractors working at the plant. Parents who were dependents of the deceased can receive 26 percent of the average weekly wages as long as they remain dependent. The OSHA inspectors were going over a long list of safety and health standards to see whether TECO may have violated standards that could have led to the incident. "Safety of our employees, of our contractors, of our customers. It serves customers across the West Central Florida service area. Our head office have strong and dedicated staff with extensive and insightful knowledge in the We serve you fast, there is no reason for our customers to delay in our banking hall. This incident demonstrates the importance of OSHAs safety standards, and the harms that they are designed to prevent, said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Departments Environment and Natural Resources Division. Big Bend Unit 2 will be retired in 2021 after nearly 50 years of service. "The world lost such a wonderful man, husband, grandfather and friend," she wrote.

TECO and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are working together to investigate what happened at the Big Bend Power Plant in Apollo Beach at about 4 p.m. Thursday. The scrubber for Units 1 and 2 began operation at the end of 1999. The plant also features a Manatee Viewing Center that The Tampa Bay Times said is a popular stop among tourists who can see the stations towering stacks from almost anywhere in the city. Eligible family members may be entitled to receive workers comp death benefits when their family member dies because of a work-related injury. Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Four workers injured at the Tampa Electric plant remained in the hospital Saturday with life-threatening burns: Antonio Navarrete, 21, and Armando J. Perez, 56, both of Wimauma; and two Tampa men related by marriage, Frank Lee Jones, 55, and his stepson, Gary Marine Jr., 32. OSHA responds when there are work-related deaths or hospitalizations. Five others were transported to Tampa General Hospital. The main focus of this product is for the provision of credit facilities for the development and modernization of MTN Money Transfer with Bonzali Rural Bank. The class B misdemeanor is the only federal criminal charge covering such workplace safety violations. Someone Told LeAnn Rimes to Eat FINALLY!!! That case is still under review. Fox 13 reports another tragic death from the TECO power plant industrial accident on June 29. Doug Bowden

Four other workers were critically injured. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. It was initially reported as an explosion by authorities, but TECO said it was a release of the molten slag, a leftover by-product from coal boilers at the plant. It can't be one sided. Big Bend Power Station is a major coal-fired power plant, located across Tampa Bay from Tampa, Florida, USA, on nearly 1,500 acres (6km2) in southwestern Hillsborough County, close to Apollo Beach. Real-time notification is also given for these services. The workers, who included one plant employee and five contractors, suffered burns and other injuries, said Corey Dierdorff, a spokesman for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue.

The work proceeded without observance of several safety-related procedures required by law. The scrubber for Unit 4 began operation in 1984, and since 1995, has simultaneously scrubbed Unit 3 as well. Family members for the surviving workers could not be reached or declined to comment Saturday. "It's like using a sandblasting unit, except you're using water instead," he said. A spokeswoman at Tampa General Hospital said Thursday night that it would not immediately release the conditions of the four patients. It houses four coal-fired units, according to the TECO website. Anyone can read what you share. We treat Our head office have strong and dedicated staff with extensive and insightful knowledge in the banking fraternity, Our business development staff are trained professionals, dedicated to making your business run better. The second unit, where the accident occurred, went online in 1973. We will be conducting a complex investigation to determine the root cause.. Weekly benefits are paid to eligible dependents based on their relationship with the deceased worker. Pressure washing is one of two common ways to clean out the inside of a slag tank, said Walter Godfrey, the president of Fire/Reconstruction Consultants Inc. in Cape Canaveral, which investigates fires and explosions. The men were sprayed with molten stone waste as they were trying to unclog the tank. In 2007, a Gaffin employee was killed in White Springs while using a power washer to clean the inside of a hot-well tank, according to an investigation by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. IBEW Local 108. The BRACE Industrial Group released the following statement: "We are very saddened to report that BRACE employee Armando Perez has died as a result of injuries suffered during the incident at Tampa Electric's Big Bend power plant on June 29. Upgrade to Big Bend Unit 1 and retirement of Unit 2. Track your investments 24 hours a day, around the clock from around the world. The four surviving victims remained at Tampa General Hospital Friday afternoon, the sheriff's office wrote in an email to media. The temperature the day of my visit was 53Fbrisk, but perfect for the unusual sight I was actually there to see. This latest investigation is expected to take several weeks. One of the men killed was a TECO employee. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, agency opened a case in May stemming from safety issues at Big Bend. Routine maintenance was being performed on a "slag tank" when the accident happened, TECO spokeswoman Cherie Jacobs told Patch on Thursday. 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. All rights Reserved. All next of kin were notified. We are currently working with OSHA in their investigation, and we are determined to do all that we can to prevent this from happening again. I always worried my daddy was going to get hurt on the job, said Frankie Atkins, the biological son of Frank Lee Jones, 55, who suffered severe burns, I actually used to work with him years ago, and he stopped me from working there because he said it was too dangerous.. McCort was the only worker who was a Tampa Electric employee. Furthermore, a judge may apply the payments as he sees just and proper for the best interests of all parties. Tampa Electric Company (TECO) operates several facilities in Florida, including Big Bend, a coal-fired power plant outside of Tampa. Apex link with Bonzali Rural Bank Six Tampa Electric workers were injured or killed in the accident at the Big Bend Power Plant while cleaning a tank.

That incident involved the release of Anhydrous ammonia that caused four employees to be hospitalized. He worked for Gaffin Industrial Services in Riverview, one of Tampa Electric's contractors at the plant. The tank collects coal slag, a glass-like waste product formed after the remains of burned coal are mixed with cold water. "This is a very complex investigation and we are unable to provide updates," she said. Pasco County Is Quarantining After The Discovery Of An Invasive Giant African Land Snail, Public File Contact Us for WTOG-TV / CW 44. Its the employers responsibility to provide a safe and healthful workplace, said OSHA spokesman Michael DAquino. Our heartfelt prayers and sympathy are extended to his family and friends as we keep our primary focus on supporting our employees and their families during this difficult time.". Apexlink is a domestic funds transfer product which enables the transfer of Airtel Money Transfer with Bonzali Rural Bank. This article, written by our staff, is free and open source. TECO is also building a 1 MW floating solar array on a pond at the plant. The local hopes that those that were injured have a full and speedy recovery. Built on 106 acres of company-owned land, the solar array was the largest of its kind in the Tampa Bay area when it was completed in 2017. The four survivors were taken to Tampa General Hospital with burn injuries. What Should I Know If I Have A Traffic Accident On The Job? She said the accident occurred during routine maintenance.. Senior plant operator Michael McCort and contract worker Christopher Irvin were pronounced dead at the scene while Antonio Navarrete and Frank Lee Jones died a week after the accident. "It's a sad day here," Jacobs said on Thursday. Load and Cash-Out Your E-Zwich Transactions, Rewarding some loyal customers of the Bank. We will be conducting a complex investigation to determine the root cause.". Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office announced the names Friday afternoon. They would be categorized as very severe, Mr. Dierdorff said at a news conference. The Emera Inc. subsidiary is coordinating with federal officials for the investigation of the incident and has also created a relief fund for the victims. APOLLO BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) The names of the victims from Thursdays industrial incident atTampa Electrics Big Bend Power Plant were released by the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy.

The accident, which involved the release of a coal-burning byproduct, brings the total number of fatalities to five, with one remaining injured survivor. Right now, OSHA still has an open investigation, looking into a chemical exposure incident that happened at the plant on May 24. "Tampa Electric's number one priority is safety," said Jacobs. The only remaining survivor is Gary Marine Jr. This tragic accident highlights the fact that employees can and do lose their lives while performing their job duties. The following is the order of preference for payments of weekly benefits under a workers comp death benefits claim. Christopher Irvin, 40, of Tampa was the other person killed when the incident, described as an industrial accident by authorities, occurred Thursday afternoon. As a result, certain critical safety-related steps were not taken, including lowering the amount of coal entering the furnace, and shutting the unit down after a specified interval had lapsed. 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APOLLO BEACH, FL As authorities continue to investigate the cause of a Thursday explosion at TECO's Big Bend Power Station that left two people dead and four critically injured, the names of the victims have been released. Tampa Electric president and CEO Gordon Gillette said the workers were trying to unplug a blockage in the tank when the hot molten slag came rushing out onto them. Emergency workers responded around 4:20 p.m. to the Big Bend Power Station in Apollo Beach and found six people with severe burns at Unit 2, one of its four coal-fired units. Accident at TECO coal plant claims 5th life, Insight Weekly: US bank M&A; low refinancing eases rates impact; Texas crypto mining booms, Insight Weekly: US stocks hit grim milestone; top European banks tumble; TMT IPOs plunge, Insight Weekly: US bank stress tests; cracks in housing market; summer energy supply risks, Infographic: Q122 U.S. Wind Power by the Numbers. 1998 - 2022 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The panels are little more than a winksolar is a small fraction of the energy mix at Big Bendbut they suggest, at least, a hoped-for future when the plant no longer relies on coal. The banks platform allows the under-listed bills to be paid in all our branches and agencies and online (where applicable) . Two people were declared dead at the scene, and the four others were taken to Tampa General Hospital with life-threatening injuries, the authorities said. accidentcoalFloridaFukushimanuclear powerpower plantTampa. A fifth worker has died following an industrial accident at Tampa Electrics' Big Bend Power Station. Overnight on Wall Street is daytime in Asia. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. Our hearts go out to the victims families as well as other TECO employees and contractors impacted by this catastrophic event. 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Chunks of it fall into cooling tanks and the remnants, which are black and glass-like, are recycled and used in sand blasting and roofing. According to the report, Brace Industrial Group Inc.'s employee, Armando Perez, died of injuries he sustained from the accident. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the victims families along with our promise to work with our federal partners in ensuring the safety of Americas workplaces.. There are few details.. This upgrade will give Tampa Electric a generation portfolio in 2023 of 75 percent natural gas, 12 percent coal, about 7 percent solar, and about 6 percent other sources. The deaths caused by the defendants conduct were tragic and they were preventable. "Can manatees survive without warm waters from power plants? The first of its four coal-fired units began service in 1970, according to the company. IBEW Local 108 has always been concerned and focused on employee safety. Some of the workers were closer to the tank than others. One was an employee. Spouses can receive 50 percent of the average weekly wage if there are no surviving children. Authorities say they are: The accident at the 603 Big Bend Road plant occurred shortly before 4:30 p.m. Thursday. We represent individuals in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale & Miami, FL. Can I File A Florida Workers Comp Claim If I No Longer Work For The Employer? The reports do not list an official cause of death for either man, but both were "covered in slag," the reports said. "We are working very closely with investigators," Cherie Jacobs, a spokeswoman for TECO, "Tampa Electric is working hard with families to make sure they have what they need.". The Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Department described the event as an industrial accident: HCFR is still in a rescue mode at the TECO plant. TAMPA Both men killed Thursday at the Big Bend Power Station in Apollo Beach were using pressure washers moments before lava-like slag gushed out of a tank and burned them, according to preliminary reports released Saturday by the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner. The two workers who died at the plant were covered in slag, which can reach temperatures far above 1,000 degrees, the authorities said. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Another victim of the June 29 accident at Tampa Electric Co.'s Big Bend coal plant in Hillsborough County, Fla., has died, the Tampa Bay Times reported July 20. Hot slag is a molten by-product created when coal is burned for electricity. Two people were taken there by air ambulance and the other two by ground. Siblings and grandchildren are also eligible to receive 15 percent of the average weekly wage as long as they remain dependent. It is among the largest plants in Florida, producing more than 1,700 megawatts of electricity. Three similar units (each 445.5 MWe nameplate capacity) were launched in the early 1970s, followed by a newer 486-MWe unit 4 in 1985.[2].