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 #14426969

MAINTENANCE,COLLAPSE,FLAMMABLE VAPORS,FIRE,EXPLOSION,GAS LEAK,PROPANE

Event
MAINTENANCE,COLLAPSE,FLAMMABLE VAPORS,FIRE,EXPLOSION,GAS LEAK,PROPANE
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
14426969
Report ID
830500

Event description

PROPANE GAS RELEASED INTO BUILDING; EXPLOSION OCCURRED

Investigation abstract

EMPLOYEES #1 THROUGH #27 WERE WORKING AT THEIR REGULARLY ASSIGNED TASKS IN A TWO E HEATER IGNITED THE PROPANE, CAUSING AN EXPLOSION. THE ENTIRE BUILDING WAS DEST ROYED. THE SECOND STORY OF THE BUILDING COLLAPSED ONTO THE GROUND FLOOR. FIRE CO NSUMED A GREAT DEAL OF THE BUILDING'S CONTENTS. EMPLOYEES #1 THROUGH #12 DIED IN THE EXPLOSION OR FIRE, WHILE EMPLOYEES #13 THROUGH 27 WERE HOSPITALIZED FOR A W IDE VARIETY OF INJURIES. STORY OPERATIONS OFFICE. EMPLOYEE #20 DROVE A 1982, MODEL 437, INTERNATIONAL TR UCK, PULLING A 1982 AZTEC FLATBED, INTO THE GARAGE AREA OF THE BUILDING. THE FLA TBED HAD A 1,000 GALLON PROPANE TANK CHAINED ONTO IT. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS ATTACHING DECALS TO THE SIDE OF THE TANK TO MEET DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION REGULATIONS. EMPLOYEE #20 WAS REMOVING FOUR BOLTS AT THE END OF THE TANK TO CHECK ON A A POS SIBLY DEFECTIVE LIQUID LEVEL GAUGE. EMPLOYEE #20 DIDN'T REALIZE THE GAUGE WAS A FLOAT GAUGE, AND THAT REMOVING IT WOULD RELEASE THE PROPANE. THE GAUGE WAS REMOV ED, RELEASING PROPANE FROM THE TANK INTO THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. A SPAC

Victims (27)

  1. #1 Fatality Age 55 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    12
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    11
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  2. #10 Fatality Age 34 F

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    12
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    11
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  3. #11 Fatality Age 24 F

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    12
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    11
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  4. #12 Fatality Age 33 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    12
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    11
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  5. #13 Hospitalized Age 42 M

    Nature of injury
    12
    Part of body
    3
    Event type
    1
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    5
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  6. #14 Hospitalized Age 29 M

    Nature of injury
    12
    Part of body
    3
    Event type
    1
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    5
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  7. #15 Hospitalized Age 47 M

    Nature of injury
    9
    Part of body
    21
    Event type
    1
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    6
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  8. #16 Hospitalized Age 23 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    1
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    6
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  9. #17 Hospitalized Age 51 M

    Nature of injury
    12
    Part of body
    14
    Event type
    1
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    6
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  10. #18 Hospitalized Age 47 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    3
    Event type
    1
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    5
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  11. #19 Hospitalized Age 67 M

    Nature of injury
    12
    Part of body
    3
    Event type
    1
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    6
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  12. #2 Fatality Age 53 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    12
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    11
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  13. #20 Hospitalized Age 54 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    9
    Event type
    1
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    5
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  14. #21 Hospitalized Age 42 M

    Nature of injury
    12
    Part of body
    7
    Event type
    1
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    6
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  15. #22 Hospitalized Age 22 F

    Nature of injury
    6
    Part of body
    13
    Event type
    1
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    6
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  16. #23 Hospitalized Age 41 M

    Nature of injury
    9
    Part of body
    21
    Event type
    1
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    5
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  17. #24 Hospitalized Age 26 M

    Nature of injury
    3
    Part of body
    21
    Event type
    1
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    6
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  18. #25 Hospitalized Age 25 M

    Nature of injury
    3
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    1
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    5
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  19. #26 Hospitalized Age 51 M

    Nature of injury
    3
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    1
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    5
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  20. #27 Hospitalized Age 62 M

    Nature of injury
    7
    Part of body
    13
    Event type
    1
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    5
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  21. #3 Fatality Age 45 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    12
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    11
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  22. #4 Fatality Age 38 F

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    12
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    11
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  23. #5 Fatality Age 36 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    12
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    11
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  24. #6 Fatality Age 33 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    12
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    11
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  25. #7 Fatality Age 29 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    12
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    11
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  26. #8 Fatality Age 54 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    12
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    11
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  27. #9 Fatality Age 23 F

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    12
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    11
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

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