OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14455919
MEGABAR EXPLOSIVES CORP
WILLARD, UT—
Event description
Employee killed in explosion during explosives mixing
Investigation abstract
On May 14, 1984, Employees #1 and 2 were mixing an explosive emulsion. They had ion was probably caused by mechanical shock or an out of control chemical reacti on. heated the oxidizers and fuel with emulsifier, separately, and had mixed them. T he compound was being stirred with an electric mixer. Employee #1 dipped a spatu la into the emulsion and picked up a sample. He said "its stringy," and put the spatula back into the beaker to return the sample. The product then exploded, ki lling Employee #1 and injuring Employee #2, who was hospitalized. The total weig ht of the mixture was 100 grams. The maximum permissible temperatures of the var ious ingredients were: perchlorates - 200 degrees C, fuel - 135 degrees C (mixed while cooling). Employee #2 observed an unusual color to the sample. The explos
Victims (2)
-
#1 Fatality Age 42 M
- Nature of injury
- 18
- Part of body
- 19
- Event type
- 1
- Source
- 43
- Occupation code
- 224
- Human factor
- 1
- Environmental factor
- 18
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#2 Hospitalized Age 29 M
- Nature of injury
- 18
- Part of body
- 19
- Event type
- 1
- Source
- 43
- Occupation code
- 224
- Human factor
- 1
- Environmental factor
- 18
- Task assigned
- 1
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