OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14557979
CHAPARRAL SERVICE
EUNICE, NM·
Event description
Two employees die of burns after oil tank explosion and fire
Investigation abstract
On August 15, 1987, Employees #1 and #2 were finishing cleaning out sediment fro m the bottom of a 400 barrel oil storage tank. Battery material was being sucked into a Mack vacuum truck tank using a Raven Internol drive pump. The employees were near the tank cleanout opening when flammable petroleum vapors in and aroun d the tank ignited. Both suffered third-degree burns over most of their bodies. Employee #1 died the day after the accident; Employee #2 died on September 4, 19 87. The source(s) of ignition has not been determined.
Victims (2)
-
#1 Fatality Age 30 M
- Nature of injury
- 5
- Part of body
- 19
- Event type
- 14
- Source
- 16
- Occupation code
- 614
- Human factor
- 8
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 2037
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#2 Fatality Age 30 M
- Nature of injury
- 5
- Part of body
- 19
- Event type
- 14
- Source
- 16
- Occupation code
- 614
- Human factor
- 8
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 2037
- Task assigned
- 1
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