OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14326946

BURN,COAL TAR PITCH,FLAMMABLE VAPORS,WORK RULES,FIRE,TORCH,TANK

1988-02-08T00:00:00

Event: BURN,COAL TAR PITCH,FLAMMABLE VAPORS,WORK RULES,FIRE,TORCH,TANK
Linked inspection: No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number: 14326946
Report ID: 317500

Event description

4 EMPLOYEES BURNED WHEN COAL TAR VAPORS IGNITED

Investigation abstract

EMPLOYEES #1-4 WERE WORKING AROUND A COAL TAR PITCH TANK THAT CONTAINED COAL TAR ED BY FLAMES SHOOTING OUT FROM BETWEEN THE TANK AND ITS COVER. PITCH HEATED TO ABOUT 450 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THE MATERIAL PRODUCES EXTREMELY F LAMMABLE VAPORS AT THAT TEMPERATURE. THE TANK HAS A LARGE COVER ON IT WITH A DOO R TO ADD COAL TAR PITCH. THE COVER IS NOT BOLTED OR OTHERWISE SECURED TO THE TAN K. A 2 INCH STEEL PIPE IS PUMPED FULL OF COAL TAR PITCH FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE T ANK. THE PIPE RUNS 65 FEET IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AND RETURNS TO A CONNECTING PART O N THE COVER. EMPLOYEES #1-4 WERE CHANGING THE SECTION OF PIPE THAT GOES INTO THE COVER. THE INLET WAS OPEN. EMPLOYEE #1 INADVERTENTLY PASSED A TORCH ACROSS THE INLET. THE VAPORS IGNITED. THEY WERE ALL STANDING NEXT TO THE TANK AND WERE BURN

Victims (4)

#1 Hospitalized Age 50 M

Nature of injury
5

Part of body
13

Event type
14

Source
16

Occupation code
999

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
0700

Task assigned
1
#2 Hospitalized Age 38 M

Nature of injury
5

Part of body
13

Event type
14

Source
16

Occupation code
999

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
0700

Task assigned
1
#3 Hospitalized Age 36 M

Nature of injury
5

Part of body
13

Event type
14

Source
16

Occupation code
999

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
0700

Task assigned
1
#4 Hospitalized Age 51 M

Nature of injury
5

Part of body
13

Event type
14

Source
16

Occupation code
999

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
0700

Task assigned
1

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