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 #14488910

HEAD,CYLINDER,EQUIPMENT FAILURE,EXPLOSION,HIGH PRESSURE,PROPANE

Event
HEAD,CYLINDER,EQUIPMENT FAILURE,EXPLOSION,HIGH PRESSURE,PROPANE
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
14488910
Report ID
215000

Event description

2 KILLED, 4 INJURED WHEN PROPANE GAS CYLINDER EXPLODED

Investigation abstract

AT 9:50 AM ON JULY 21, 1987, A COMPANY HAD RECEIVED A SISEWALK DELIVERY OF FIVE PROPANE FALLING DOWN THE STAIRS. AS THE CYLINDER PASSED HIM IT WAS MAKING A "HIS SING" NOISE. THAT WAS THE LAST THING HE REMEMBERED UNTIL HE WOKE UP IN THE HOSPI TAL WITH A HEAD INJURY. EMPLOYEE #5 SAID THAT WHEN HE REACHED THE 2ND FLOOR TOIL ET ROOM, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION. EMPLOYEES #1 AND #3 WERE WORKING IN THE BUILDIN G. EMPLOYEES #2 AND #6 WERE OUTSIDE THE BUILDING ON THE SIDE WALK. EMPLOYEES #1 AND #2 WERE KILLED. THE OTHERS WERE HOSPITALIZED WITH INJURIES. 20 POUND PROPANE CYLINDERS (BARBECUE TYPE) AND FOUR 40 CUBIC FOOT ACETYLENE CYLI NDERS. EMPLOYEES #2, #4 AND #5 STARTED TO STORE THE CYLINDERS IN THE CELLAR THRO UGH A SIDEWALK STAIRWAY. EMPLOYEE #2 WAS ON THE SIDEWALK AND EMPLOYEE #4 WAS HAL F WAY DOWN THE STAIRS. EMPLOYEE #5 WAS IN THE CELLAR. THE TANKS WERE PASSED DOWN THE STAIRS. WHEN THERE WERE 3 PROPANE CYLINDERS LEFT ON THE SIDEWALK, EMPLOYEE #5 LEFT THE CELLAR TO GO TO THE TOILET ROOM. EMPLOYEE #4 WENT UP TO THE SIDEWALK AND CARRIED A 20 POUND PROPANE CYLINDER DOWN TO THE CELLAR. AS EMPLOYEE #4 WAS COMING BACK UP THE STAIRS TO GET ANOTHER PROPANE CYLINDER, HE SAW A CYLINDER OF

Victims (6)

  1. #1 Fatality Age 30 M

    Nature of injury
    3
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    1
    Source
    8
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  2. #2 Fatality Age 30 M

    Nature of injury
    3
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    1
    Source
    8
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  3. #3 Hospitalized Age 30 M

    Nature of injury
    7
    Part of body
    20
    Event type
    1
    Source
    8
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  4. #4 Hospitalized Age 30 M

    Nature of injury
    7
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    1
    Source
    8
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  5. #5 Hospitalized Age 30 M

    Nature of injury
    3
    Part of body
    13
    Event type
    1
    Source
    8
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

  6. #6 Hospitalized Age 30 M

    Nature of injury
    3
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    1
    Source
    8
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2150
    Task assigned
    1

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