Loren Kim Jacobson, 65, of Pocatello, Idaho, is going to prison for lying to federal investigators after a cargo tanker explosion he helped cause. Sentenced to one month behind bars, five months of home confinement, three years of supervised release, and slapped with a $15,000 fine, Jacobson admitted to deceiving OSHA and violating federal safety laws meant to protect workers handling dangerous materials.
The explosion occurred on August 14, 2018, at KCCS Inc., Jacobson’s tanker testing and repair company. A welder working inside a cargo tanker ignited residual flammable vapors when his flame pierced the tank’s skin. The blast severely injured the employee. Instead of owning up, Jacobson lied to OSHA investigators, claiming the injured man was just an “observer” and that KCCS had no employees—knowing OSHA rules apply only to employers.
Jacobson’s lies didn’t stop there. He told the OSHA inspector he’d used a lower explosive limit meter to test for fumes before welding. He hadn’t. That simple check could have detected the deadly vapors and prevented the explosion. His false statements were part of a broader effort to dodge responsibility for breaking multiple OSHA safety standards, especially those governing confined space entries—among the most hazardous jobs in industrial repair.
Worse, Jacobson admitted he had no legal right to perform the repairs in the first place. Under the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, anyone repairing a cargo tanker’s shell must hold an “R stamp”—a certification earned only after rigorous training. Jacobson didn’t have it. Yet he routinely made such repairs, often directing workers to weld patches from inside the tanks to hide the illegal work from inspectors.
He also falsified pressure test results for cargo tank owners. These tests are mandatory and designed to ensure tanks can vent excess pressure and avoid catastrophic failures. Jacobson skipped the actual testing, fabricating passable numbers on paperwork instead. When confronted by a Department of Transportation inspector, he doubled down—producing fake forms with doctored results to cover his tracks.
“This tragic accident could have been prevented had the defendant adhered to OSHA workplace safety requirements,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr. On May 20, Jacobson pleaded guilty to lying to OSHA and violating the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act. His crimes weren’t just bureaucratic lapses—they were life-threatening shortcuts that endangered workers, defrauded clients, and mocked federal safety laws built on bloodied lessons from past disasters.
RELATED: Loren Kim Jacobson Jailed for Lying After Tanker Explosion
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Key Facts
- State: Idaho
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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