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Safety Incidents OSHA Severe Injury Reports · 2015–2025

OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14254825

FURNACE,STEAM,EXPLOSION,STRUCK BY,FLYING OBJECT

Event
FURNACE,STEAM,EXPLOSION,STRUCK BY,FLYING OBJECT
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
14254825
Report ID
453710

Event description

Employees injured by debris from explosion in furnace

Investigation abstract

At approximately 8:25 a.m. on July 13, 1988, four maintenance employees of Gener al Electric Co. and two employees of Bildon Co., Inc., were preparing a smelter furnace to be relined. The furnace was heated to approximately 2,200 degrees F a nd water was introduced into the furnace through a 1 1/2 in. diameter pipe in or der to crack the brick in the furnace floor. When the water entered the furnace, the rapid expansion of steam in the super-heated space of the furnace caused an explosion. Employees #1 through #11 were injured by small flying particles. Non e was hospitalized and all returned to work the same day.

Victims (11)

  1. #1 Non-hospitalized injury Age 53 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    17
    Event type
    1
    Source
    14
    Occupation code
    503
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    5
    Hazardous substance
    8420
    Task assigned
    1
  2. #10 Non-hospitalized injury Age 44 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    17
    Event type
    1
    Source
    14
    Occupation code
    557
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    5
    Hazardous substance
    8420
    Task assigned
    1
  3. #11 Non-hospitalized injury Age 30 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    17
    Event type
    1
    Source
    14
    Occupation code
    585
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    5
    Hazardous substance
    8420
    Task assigned
    1
  4. #2 Non-hospitalized injury Age 38 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    9
    Event type
    1
    Source
    14
    Occupation code
    519
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    5
    Hazardous substance
    8420
    Task assigned
    1
  5. #3 Non-hospitalized injury Age 50 M

    Nature of injury
    21
    Part of body
    6
    Event type
    1
    Source
    14
    Occupation code
    519
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    5
    Hazardous substance
    8420
    Task assigned
    1
  6. #4 Non-hospitalized injury Age 55 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    17
    Event type
    1
    Source
    14
    Occupation code
    57
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    5
    Hazardous substance
    8420
    Task assigned
    1
  7. #5 Non-hospitalized injury Age 44 M

    Nature of injury
    3
    Part of body
    21
    Event type
    4
    Source
    43
    Occupation code
    725
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    18
    Hazardous substance
    8420
    Task assigned
    1
  8. #6 Non-hospitalized injury Age 42 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    17
    Event type
    1
    Source
    14
    Occupation code
    633
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    5
    Hazardous substance
    8420
    Task assigned
    1
  9. #7 Non-hospitalized injury Age 52 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    20
    Event type
    1
    Source
    14
    Occupation code
    725
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    5
    Hazardous substance
    8420
    Task assigned
    1
  10. #8 Non-hospitalized injury Age 38 M

    Nature of injury
    11
    Part of body
    8
    Event type
    1
    Source
    14
    Occupation code
    519
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    8420
    Task assigned
    1
  11. #9 Non-hospitalized injury Age 41 M

    Nature of injury
    3
    Part of body
    7
    Event type
    6
    Source
    43
    Occupation code
    719
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    18
    Hazardous substance
    8420
    Task assigned
    1

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