Man drowns in vat of sulfuric acid

2007-09-23 06:33:00 PDT REDWOOD CITY -- Update: San Mateo County Coroner's officials have identified 18-year-old Fernando Jimenez Gonzalez of Redwood City as the man who drowned in a vat of sulfuric acid at a Redwood City factory early this morning. Gonzalez's body was discovered at Coastal Circuits Factory on Tacoma Way at around 1:45 a.m. by his father, also an employee of the company, after Gonzalez didn't arrive home, according to a Redwood City police spokesman.

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An 18-year-old man working at a printed circuit boards company in Redwood City died early this morning after he apparently drowned in a vat of sulfuric acid, according to Sgt. Steve Dowden.

The man was one of two working at the Costal Circuits Factory at 1602 Tacoma Way at around 1:45 a.m. when he died, Dowden said.

Officials believe fumes from the various chemicals used at the factory overwhelmed the victim, and he fell forward into a waist-high vat of sulfuric acid and drowned, according to Dowden.

Dowden said the victim did not appear to be wearing facial protection, a safety measure strongly recommended when working in close contact with hazardous chemicals.

The circuit boards factory is now closed for an undetermined amount of time, according to Dowden.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials are investigating the incident to determine what working conditions surrounded the victim's death, Dowden said.

The other worker at the factory was not injured, Dowden said.