OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14231963
BURN,OIL CIRCUIT BREAKER,COMPRESSOR,FLAMMABLE VAPORS,FIRE,EQUIPMENT FAILURE
Event description
Three employees die in fire from compressor oil leak
Investigation abstract
On February 13, 1988, the ski manager visited the compressor room and observed t o restart the compressor, and, if the temperature went up, shut it down and prep are to change the discharge spring the next day. Just shortly after 12:00 noon o n February 14, 1988, Employees #1, #2, and #3 entered the compressor room and st arted compressor #4. Shortly after the compressor was started, the oil line from the air receiver sumps to the oil pumps separated from the end of a coupling th at was held in place between two 90 degree elbows by a clamp and meshwire-type g asket. The oil, under pressure from the air receiver, sprayed into the area like a mist or fog. A flash fire occurred from an undetermined source of ignition. A ll three employees were seriously injured and died. A material failure of the me shwire gasket, which allowed the coupling to slip off the nipple between the two hat Joy Compressor #4, Ariscrew compressor class RES 1200, serial #96-299, was r elbow fittings, possibly caused the discharge of oil. There is an ongoing study by the local Fire Marshall's Office and various consulting companies to determi ne the actual cause and source of ignition. None of these reports will be availa ble for quite some time. unning at a higher temperature than normal. No unusual noises were heard at this time. The manager, with the help of one of his employees, used a temperature me ter to obtain several readings on compressor #4 and the adjacent one for compari son. It was decided to shut compressor #4 down and let it cool. On the morning o f February 14, 1988, the five remaining air compressors (compressor #4 was still shut down) were used to make snow. Employee #2 and the manager discussed the pr obable causes of the temperature running high on compressor #4. It was decided t
Victims (3)
-
#1 Fatality Age 25 M
- Nature of injury
- 2
- Part of body
- 4
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 16
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 1
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#2 Fatality Age 24 M
- Nature of injury
- 2
- Part of body
- 4
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 16
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 1
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#3 Fatality Age 33 M
- Nature of injury
- 2
- Part of body
- 4
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 16
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 1
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Task assigned
- 1
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