A welder died and a superintendent was rushed to a hospital with a leg injury after a Wednesday morning accident inside a water tank in an Oildale oil field.

Authorities said the accident occurred when a temporary platform the two men were standing on gave way at about 9:30 a.m.

The welder, 54-year-old Barry Snelson of Oildale, suffered a head injury and the superintendent fractured his ankle, said Dean Fryer, a spokesman for Cal-OSHA, which is investigating the accident.

The superintendent was not identified. Fryer said both men were working for Brahma Group Inc., an engineering and contracting firm based in Salt Lake City.

Brahma could not be reached for comment.

While details remain sketchy and agencies on the scene provided sometimes contradictory accounts, Fryer said the two workers were testing the tank at the time of the accident.

“What they were doing was bringing water, pumping water into the tank to see where there may be leaks,” he said.

Kern County Fire Capt. Eric Coughran said the men were cleaning up after a welding repair job from the night before.

Coughran said the man with the leg injury was pulled out with a harness about an hour after the accident. He was taken to Kern Medical Center.

Shortly after, the other man was pulled out. He was then pronounced dead at the scene, Coughran said.

The tank measures 15 feet high and 10 feet wide with an 18-inch opening for entry and exit.

The tank is part of Live Oak Cogen, a 46 megawatt, natural gas-fired power plant located in an oil field about 1 1/2 miles west of South Granite Road. In addition to generating electricity, the facility sells steam for heavy oil production nearby.

Snelson’s widow, Diane, said he was a safety-conscious, honest family man who was “excited” to join Brahma earlier this year after being without full-time work for a few months.

“He loves the company that he works for, loves all the people that he was working with. They’re an awesome company,” she said.

Snelson had worked as a welder since the age of 18, she said, describing him as “very safety oriented and very easy-going gentleman.”

The couple have three children: Nicole, 30, living in Clovis; Julie 28, in South Carolina; and Anthony, 25, who lives with his parents.

Beyond Workers’ Comp

Many injured  workers assume they are only able to receive workers’ compensation benefits for injuries on the job site.  A careful analysis of the accident by an attorney experienced in construction injury claims may reveal other sources of financial compensation.  If an employee of another subcontractor was responsible for the falling debris that injured you, we may pursue an injury claim against his or her employer, for example.  A general contractor who failed to maintain a safe workplace may also be liable.

The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler have a long history of winning impressive results for construction injury victims and the family members of those who died a wrongful death due to construction accidents.

Demand accountability from those responsible for the dangerous conditions of  workplace site accidents.  Many times the insurance companies will play “hardball” if you try to settle the case yourself or you have employed a lawyer who does not have the litigation experience to handle such a complex case.  We at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler have twenty years of litigation experience and know how to handle the insurance companies to your advantage.  We are prepared to front all costs required for the necessary investigation and expert witnesses needed to prepare your case for trial.

The laws regarding workplace accident cases are complex and include many facets of the law. It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced construction accident lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your rights and those of your loved ones.

With over 20 years of experience, Gary A Kessler has earned the respect of our colleagues and the courts in California and nationwide for our personal injury work.  We have achieved a winning record on behalf of our clients, and we are proud of our successful cases that lead to safety improvements through strengthened laws and product recall.

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury or lost a loved one in a workplace accident, we encourage you to contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler today for a free consultation.