OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14528681

BURN,SANDING MACHINE,DUST,ALUMINUM DUST,ALUMINUM PROCESSING,FIRE,DUST COLLECTOR,SPARK

1984-08-31T00:00:00

Event: BURN,SANDING MACHINE,DUST,ALUMINUM DUST,ALUMINUM PROCESSING,FIRE,DUST COLLECTOR,SPARK
Linked inspection: No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number: 14528681
Report ID: 111700

Event description

BURNS FROM DUST COLLECTION SYSTEM FIRE AND EXPLOSION

Investigation abstract

AN EMPLOYEE WAS BURNED WHILE STANDING AT THE FEED END OF A TIME SAVER SANDING MA R THE SANDING BELT ON THE MACHINE, PRODUCING A GLOWING MOSS OF METAL. THE MACHIN E OPERATOR CALLED EMPLOYEE #1. EMPLOYEE #1 CAME INTO THE ROOM TO WATCH THE SANDI NG MACHINE OPERATOR TRY TO DISLODGE THE GLOWING MOSS WITH A ROD WHILE STANDING O N THE SIDE OF THE MACHINE. EMPLOYEE #1 THEN SAW THE FLEXIBLE RUBBER DUCTWORK BEH IND THE SANDING MACHINE OPERATOR BEGIN TO SMOKE. EMPLOYEE #1, NOW STANDING AT TH E FEED END OF THE SANDING MACHINE, ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF THE ELECTRIC CURRENT TO THE DUST COLLECTION SYSTEM. AT THIS TIME, THE FLASH FIRE OCCURRED AND BURNED TH E FRONT OF HIS BODY FROM THE WAIST UP. THE ALUMINUM DUST APPARENTLY CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE STEEL SPARKS FEEDING INTO A MODEL 20.5 FB-55 TORIT DUST COLLECTION SYST EM (DRY TYPE WITH 4 FABRIC FILTER BAGS). THIS SYSTEM WAS LOCATED OUTDOORS. THE E CHINE (MODEL TOP 18, HAVING A 18" X 85" NORTON 180 GRIT METALITE SANDING BELT). NTIRE OPERATION WAS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH NFPA STD #65 ON ALUMINUM PROCESSING, INVOLVING THE GRINDING, SANDING AND POLISHING OF ALUMINUM MATERIALS. APPARENTLY A FIRE IN THE DUST COLLECTOR CONNECTED TO THE TIME SAVER MACHINE BLEW BACK THROUGH THE DUCTWORK OF THE MACHINE EXHAUST HOODS AND ONTO THE EMPLOYEE'S BODY. THE TIME SAVER SANDING MACHINE COLLECTS STEEL AND ALUMINUM DUST FROM THE S URFACE SANDING OF STEEL OR ALUMINUM PARTS PROCESSED THROUGH THE MACHINE. AT THE TIME OF THIS ACCIDENT THE TIME SAVER MACHINE OPERATOR WAS FEEDING STEEL PARTS IN TO THE SANDER. THIS PROCESS NORMALLY GENERATES VISIBLE SPARKS AT THE POINT OF SA NDING. IN THIS INSTANCE THE SPARKS BECAME PLUGGED AT THE LOCAL EXHAUST HOOD, NEA

Victim

#1 Hospitalized Age 30 M

Nature of injury
5

Part of body
15

Event type
1

Source
16

Occupation code
999

Human factor
6

Environmental factor
7

Task assigned
2

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