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 #14503106

ELECTRIC MOTOR,OPEN VALVE,EXPLOSION,PROPANE,SPARK

Event
ELECTRIC MOTOR,OPEN VALVE,EXPLOSION,PROPANE,SPARK
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
14503106
Report ID
729700

Event description

PROPANE GAS EXPLOSION

Investigation abstract

ALL COMPANY EMPLOYEES WERE ATTENDING A SALES PRESENTATION IN THE OFFICE OF A CON VERTED FARM HOUSE. AN ACCUMULATION OF PROPANE GAS IN THE BASEMENT WAS IGNITED BY A SPARK FROM AN ELECTRIC MOTOR. THE RESULTANT EXPLOSION TOTALLY DEMOLISHED THE BUILDING. AN UNCAPPED OUTLET IN THE PROPANE FUEL LINE, FORMED WHEN THE LINE WAS CUT DURING REMODELING OF THE FARM HOUSE, WAS THE SOURCE OF THE PROPANE LEAK. THE COMPANY'S PRESIDENT HAD ATTEMPTED TO LIGHT THE PROPANE FED FLOOR FURNACE WHEN H E WAS CALLED AWAY, LEAVING THE VALVE ON AND CONSEQUENTLY ALLOWING THE PROPANE GA S TO ACCUMULATE IN THE BASEMENT.

Victims (18)

  1. #1 Fatality Age 38 F

    Nature of injury
    12
    Part of body
    5
    Event type
    1
    Source
    8
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    5
    Task assigned
    1

  2. #10 Hospitalized Age 22 F

    Nature of injury
    12
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    1
    Source
    8
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    5
    Task assigned
    1

  3. #11 Non-hospitalized injury Age 25 F

    Nature of injury
    3
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    1
    Source
    8
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    5
    Task assigned
    1

  4. #12 Non-hospitalized injury Age 34 M

    Nature of injury
    3
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    1
    Source
    8
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    5
    Task assigned
    1

  5. #13 Non-hospitalized injury Age 37 M

    Nature of injury
    18
    Part of body
    11
    Event type
    6
    Source
    8
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    2
    Task assigned
    1

  6. #14 Non-hospitalized injury Age 42 M

    Nature of injury
    3
    Part of body
    12
    Event type
    1
    Source
    8
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    5
    Task assigned
    1

  7. #15 Non-hospitalized injury Age 19 F

    Nature of injury
    3
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    1
    Source
    8
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    5
    Task assigned
    1

  8. #16 Non-hospitalized injury Age 45 F

    Nature of injury
    3
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    14
    Source
    8
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    18
    Task assigned
    1

  9. #17 Non-hospitalized injury Age 45 M

    Nature of injury
    3
    Part of body
    15
    Event type
    1
    Source
    2
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    18
    Task assigned
    1

  10. #18 Non-hospitalized injury Age 52 M

    Nature of injury
    3
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    1
    Source
    8
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    5
    Task assigned
    1

  11. #2 Hospitalized Age 46 M

    Nature of injury
    9
    Part of body
    3
    Event type
    1
    Source
    8
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    5
    Task assigned
    1

  12. #3 Hospitalized Age 41 F

    Nature of injury
    21
    Part of body
    31
    Event type
    12
    Source
    43
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    18
    Task assigned
    1

  13. #4 Hospitalized Age 53 M

    Nature of injury
    12
    Part of body
    3
    Event type
    1
    Source
    8
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    5
    Task assigned
    1

  14. #5 Hospitalized Age 62 M

    Nature of injury
    9
    Part of body
    12
    Event type
    1
    Source
    8
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    5
    Task assigned
    1

  15. #6 Hospitalized Age 25 F

    Nature of injury
    12
    Part of body
    3
    Event type
    1
    Source
    8
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    5
    Task assigned
    1

  16. #7 Hospitalized Age 25 F

    Nature of injury
    12
    Part of body
    5
    Event type
    1
    Source
    8
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    5
    Task assigned
    1

  17. #8 Hospitalized Age 23 M

    Nature of injury
    12
    Part of body
    3
    Event type
    1
    Source
    8
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    5
    Task assigned
    1

  18. #9 Hospitalized Age 25 F

    Nature of injury
    12
    Part of body
    3
    Event type
    1
    Source
    8
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    4
    Environmental factor
    5
    Task assigned
    1

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