OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14369458
BOYLE-MIDWAY
CANTON, OH·
Event description
Three employees killed, one injured in lab explosion
Investigation abstract
Employees #1 through #4 were in a lab in Canton, OH, where they were conducting on. a test that involved opening air freshener aerosol cans to inspect them for inte rnal liners. The aerosol cans contained 99.5 percent liquefied petroleum gases ( propane and isobutane). Employees #1 through #4 would punch a small hole into th e top of each can to vent the pressure and then cut open the can and pour the li quefied gases into a 2 1/2 to 3 gal bucket. The full bucket was emptied twice in to a lab sink with the hot water running. Approximately 400 to 500 12 oz cans ha d been emptied into the sink when the accumulated liquefied gases ignited and ex ploded. Employees #1, #3, and #4 were killed; Employee #2 required hospitalizati
Victims (4)
-
#1 Fatality Age 43 M
- Nature of injury
- 5
- Part of body
- 4
- Event type
- 14
- Source
- 16
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 6
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 1803
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#2 Hospitalized Age 25 M
- Nature of injury
- 5
- Part of body
- 3
- Event type
- 14
- Source
- 16
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 6
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 1803
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#3 Fatality Age 34 M
- Nature of injury
- 5
- Part of body
- 4
- Event type
- 14
- Source
- 16
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 6
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 1803
- Task assigned
- 2
-
#4 Fatality Age 24 F
- Nature of injury
- 5
- Part of body
- 4
- Event type
- 14
- Source
- 16
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 6
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 1803
- Task assigned
- 1
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