OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14484935
C & W METER SERVICE INC.
NIAGARA FALLS, NY·
Event description
2 EMPLOYEES KILLED WHEN TANK EXPLODED; CUTTING TORCH USED
Investigation abstract
AT APPROXIMATELY 7 AM ON DECEMBER 12, 1986, TWO EMPLOYEES WERE ASSIGNED THE JOB OF CUTTING UP TWO STORAGE TANKS BY THEIR SUPERVISOR. THE TANKS HAD PREVIOUSLY HE LD A MIXTURE OF GASOLINE AND KEROSENE. THE TANKS HAD BEEN EMPTIED AND RINSED BY THEIR SUPERVISOR THE DAY BEFORE. THE FIRST TANK WAS CUT UP WITHOUT INCIDENT. ARO UND 11 OR 11:15 AM, ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES STARTED TO CUT THE SECOND TANK. HIS PAR TNER WAS NEARBY. AS SOON AS THE TORCH PENETRATED THE TANK WALL AN EXPLOSION OCCU RRED WHICH BLEW ONE END OF THE TANK OFF. BOTH EMPLOYEES WERE KILLED. ONE EMPLOYE E WAS BLOWN APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET AWAY; THE OTHER AT LEAST 300 FEET. THE NORMAL PROCEDURE OF VENTING THE TANK WITH COMPRESSED AIR WAS NOT USED.
Victims (2)
-
#1 Fatality Age 37 M
- Nature of injury
- 21
- Part of body
- 19
- Event type
- 1
- Source
- 35
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 1
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 1340
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#2 Fatality Age 26 M
- Nature of injury
- 21
- Part of body
- 19
- Event type
- 1
- Source
- 35
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 1
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 1340
- Task assigned
- 1
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