Return to Incidents Database Search Page
Underneath the furnaces at a coal-fired power plant were water-filled tanks designed to catch and cool the molten “slag” — a by-product that drips down from the furnace. On the day of the incident, hardened slag had accumulated at the top and bottom of the tank. Rather than shutting down the furnace, the company called in a contractor to perform high-pressure water blasting to try and clear the slag with the unit on-line. The work proceeded without observance of several safety-related procedures required by law. Five people were killed when one of the slag accumulations came loose, spraying the area with molten slag.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachelle DesVaux Bedke for the Middle District of Florida
Burned
Hillsborough
Florida
June 29, 2017
Unavailable
| First | Last | Age | Title | Employer | Injury Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael | McCort | 60 | Unavailable | Tampa Electric Company | Fatality |
| Christopher | Irvin | 40 | Unavailable | Tampa Electric Company | Fatality |
| Frank Lee | Jones | 55 | Unavailable | Tampa Electric Company | Fatality |
| Antonio | Navarrete | 20 | Unavailable | Tampa Electric Company | Fatality |
| Amando | Perez | 56 | Unavailable | Tampa Electric Company | Fatality |
| Name | Type | Title | Plea Information | Conviction Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Electric Company | Entity | Entity | The company pled guilty to a charge of willfully violating an OSHA rule that resulted in the death of five workers, a federal misdemeanor. | As part of the plea agreement, the company agreed to pay a $500,000 fine and a term of 3 years probation. The agreement also obligated the company to comply with a Safety Compliance Plan. Tampa Electric Co. also negotiated confidential civil settlements with each of the victims' families. |
|
Penal Crimes Charged
Willful violation of OSHA standard resulting in the death of five workers. 29 U.S.C. § 666(e). |
Other Crimes Charged
Unavailable |
|||