105,313Records 71,083Employers 85,290Hospitalizations 27,770Amputations 2015-01-01 2025-10-31
Safety Incidents OSHA Severe Injury Reports · 2015–2025

OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14305882

BURN,STATIC ELECTRICITY,FLAMMABLE VAPORS,CLEANING,FIRE,TOLUENE,EXPLOSION,SPARK

Event
BURN,STATIC ELECTRICITY,FLAMMABLE VAPORS,CLEANING,FIRE,TOLUENE,EXPLOSION,SPARK
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
14305882
Report ID
454712

Event description

TOLUENE VAPORS IGNITED, BURNING EMPLOYEES

Investigation abstract

TWO EMPLOYEES, A ROLLTENDER AND ASSISTANT PRESSMAN, WORKING ON LEVEL ONE OF PRIN TER #827, WERE POURING TOLUENE FROM TALLOW CANS ONTO THE WEB TO CLEAN THE IDLERS . A SUDDEN EXPLOSION AND RESULTING FIRES OCCURRED. THE TWO EMPLOYEES SUSTAINED S ECOND AND THIRD DEGREE BURNS. THE PRESSMAN ON THE THIRD LEVEL OF PRINTER #827 WA S BURNED, AS THE FIRE FOLLOWED THE VAPORS WHICH HAD RISEN TO THE THIRD LEVEL. A HOIST OPERATOR, STANDING NEXT TO PRESS #827, WAS BURNED AS WELL. A ROLLTENDER FR OM PRESS #828 WAS BURNED WHEN HE HELPED PUT A FIRE BLANKET ON ONE OF THE BURNED EMPLOYEES. THE FIRE AND EXPLOSION ARE THOUGHT TO BE THE RESULT OF A STATIC SPARK WHICH IGNITED THE TOLUENE VAPORS.

Victims (5)

  1. #1 Hospitalized Age 30 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    14
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    734
    Human factor
    6
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2460
    Task assigned
    1

  2. #2 Hospitalized Age 25 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    14
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    734
    Human factor
    6
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2460
    Task assigned
    1

  3. #3 Hospitalized Age 25 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    14
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    848
    Human factor
    6
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2460
    Task assigned
    1

  4. #4 Hospitalized Age 30 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    14
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    734
    Human factor
    6
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2460
    Task assigned
    1

  5. #5 Hospitalized Age 30 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    12
    Event type
    14
    Source
    16
    Occupation code
    734
    Human factor
    6
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2460
    Task assigned
    1

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