OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14464234

BURN,ALCOHOL,FLAMMABLE VAPORS,WORK RULES,FIRE,EXPLOSION,SPARK,INATTENTION

1985-08-13T00:00:00

Event: BURN,ALCOHOL,FLAMMABLE VAPORS,WORK RULES,FIRE,EXPLOSION,SPARK,INATTENTION
Linked inspection: No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number: 14464234
Report ID: 551800

Event description

EXPLOSION AND FIRE DURING ETHANOL SPILL CLEANUP

Investigation abstract

EMPLOYEE #1 WAS FILLING A 55 GALLON STOCKPOT WITH #SD3A ALCOHOL FROM A FILL LINE . HE LEFT HIS WORK STATION WITHOUT STOPPING THE ALCOHOL FLOW. THE STOCKPOT OVERF ILLED, SPILLING 20 GALLONS OF ALCOHOL ONTO THE FLOOR. IT IS SUSPECTED THAT EMPLO YEE #1 ATTEMPTED TO CLEAN THE SPILL, USING AN ELECTRIC, NONAPPROVED FLOOR SCRUBB ER. AN EXPLOSION AND FLASH FIRE RESULTED, CAUSING THIRD DEGREE BURNS OVER 60% OF EMPLOYEE #1'S BODY. HE DIED 13 DAYS LATER.

Victim

#1 Fatality Age 34 M

Nature of injury
5

Part of body
19

Event type
14

Source
9

Occupation code
756

Human factor
6

Environmental factor
10

Hazardous substance
1060

Task assigned
1

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