State Widens Probe of Electrical Vault Blasts
State investigators probing last week’s electrical vault explosion in Pasadena that killed three city workers said Monday that they are also looking into a similar blast in Los Angeles two years ago, and any other similar explosions, to determine if changes in safety procedures may be required.
Isaac Chae, district manager at the Cal/OSHA office in Covina, said he has contacted other Cal/OSHA offices for reports of vault explosions and has requested that a senior safety engineer with electrical expertise be sent to Pasadena. “The procedure of how to enter into the vault is one aspect we have to look into,” he said.
It was not immediately clear how many such explosions have occurred or how many Cal/OSHA will include in its investigation.
Thursday’s blast in Pasadena killed foreman Walter (Glenn) Wise, 50, of Temple City, and two cable splicers, Brian Miles, 36, of Pasadena, and Larry Hokenson, 38, of West Covina.
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