OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14518559

HEAD,FLAMMABLE VAPORS,WORK RULES,DRUM,FIRE,EXPLOSION,STRUCK BY,CUTTING AND BURNING

1987-10-29T13:40:00

Event: HEAD,FLAMMABLE VAPORS,WORK RULES,DRUM,FIRE,EXPLOSION,STRUCK BY,CUTTING AND BURNING
Linked inspection: No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number: 14518559
Report ID: 419700

Event description

EMPLOYEE KILLED WHEN 55 GALLON DRUM EXPLODED

Investigation abstract

AT APPROXIMATELY 1:40 PM ON OCTOBER 29, 1987, EMPLOYEE #1 WAS WORKING ALONE IN A N OPEN AREA IN THE NORTHWESTERN CORNER OF THE COMPANY'S PROPERTY. HE WAS CUTTING THE TOP AND BOTTOM OFF A 55 GALLON DRUM, USING AN OXYACETYLENE CUTTING TORCH. T HE DRUM HAD NOT BEEN THOROUGHLY CLEANED, PURGED, OR VENTED. HE APPLIED HEAT TO T HE TOP OF THE DRUM WITH THE TORCH, CUTTING A SMALL HOLE. EXPLOSIVE VAPORS INSIDE THE DRUM IGNITED, CAUSING AN EXPLOSION WHICH PROPELLED THE DRUM INTO EMPLOYEE # 1'S HEAD. A FIRE ALSO STARTED IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS KILLED INST ANTLY.

Victim

#1 Fatality Age 44 M

Nature of injury
22

Part of body
13

Event type
1

Source
16

Occupation code
999

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
5

Task assigned
1

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