OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14235584

BURN,FLAMMABLE VAPORS,WORK RULES,DRUM,EXPLOSION,SKIN,STRUCK BY,FLYING OBJECT,FACE,CUTTING AND BURNING

1985-10-23T00:00:00

Event: BURN,FLAMMABLE VAPORS,WORK RULES,DRUM,EXPLOSION,SKIN,STRUCK BY,FLYING OBJECT,FACE,CUTTING AND BURNING
Linked inspection: No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number: 14235584
Report ID: 552700

Event description

DRUM EXPLODED WHILE BEING CUT WITH OXY-ACETYLENE TORCH

Investigation abstract

EMPLOYEE #1 HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED BY THE SERVICE WRITER TO CUT OFF THE TOPS OF ABO CE AND ASKED ABOUT THE GREEN DRUMS. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD HIM TO CUT THEM ALL UP. ABOUT 10-15 DRUMS WERE CUT UP AND TAKEN TO THE SCRAP YARD. AFTER RETURNING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER'S OFFICE AND GIVING HIM THE RECEIPT AND MONEY, EMPLOYEE # 1 CONTINUED TO CUT THE TOPS OFF SOME MORE DRUMS. THE DRUMS HAD CONTAINED SOAP, A NTI-FREEZE, AND LACQUER THINNER. EMPLOYEE #1 STARTED TO CUT THE THIRD DRUM (IT H AD CONTAINED LAQUER THINNER), WHEN THE TOP BEGAN TO BULGE UPWARD. EMPLOYEE #1 RE ALIZED IT WAS GOING TO BLOW AND STARTED TO TURN AWAY. THE TOP BLEW OFF AND WENT ABOUT 140 YARDS INTO THE AIR. EMPLOYEE #1'S FACE WAS BURNED AND SOME SCRAP METAL WAS EMBEDDED IN HIS SKIN. ANOTHER EMPLOYEE TOOK EMPLOYEE #1 TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT HE WAS UNAWARE THAT EMPLOYEE #1 WAS UT TWO DOZEN DRUMS LOCATED IN A FENCED AREA ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE MAIN BUILDIN USING A TORCH. SINCE EMPLOYEE #1 HAD BEEN SPECIFICALLY ASKED IF HE KNEW HOW TO O PERATE A TORCH, THE VERACITY OF THIS CLAIM IS SUSPECT. G. THESE DRUMS WERE TO BE SALVAGED AT A LOCAL SCRAP DEALER, BUT WOULD NOT BE ACC EPTED WITH THE TOPS IN PLACE. THE SERVICE WRITER ASKED EMPLOYEE #1 IF HE KNEW HO W TO OPERATE AN OXY-ACETYLENE TORCH. EMPLOYEE #1 STATED THAT HE HAD OPERATED A T ORCH FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS WHEN HE WORKED IN AN AUTO BODY SHOP. EMPLOYEE #1 THEN QU ESTIONED THE SERVICE WRITER WHETHER SOME GREEN DRUMS SHOULD BE CUT, BECAUSE ANOT HER EMPLOYEE HAD TOLD HIM THAT THESE DRUMS COULD BE RETURNED TO THE SUPPLIER FOR A REFUND. EMPLOYEE #1 AND THE SERVICE WRITER WENT TO THE SERVICE MANAGER'S OFFI

Victim

#1 Non-hospitalized injury Age 26 M

Nature of injury
5

Part of body
13

Event type
1

Source
35

Occupation code
514

Human factor
6

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
2590

Task assigned
1

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