FORT MYERS, FLORIDA—
North America Explosive Services
Demolition or blasting explosion · Amputations
Final narrative
An employee placed an explosive in the economizer hole and another employee then set the blast. When the explosive blast occurred, the injured employee sustained amputations to fingers on the right hand.
Similar incidents · Same event type
ALBANY, TEXAS—
Anderson Perforating Services LLC
An employee was helping to download shaped charges. During the process, a charge exploded directly over the employee's left hand. The employee suffered lacerations and burns to his left hand. He was hospitalized, and his left little finger was surgically amputated.
AVON PARK, FLORIDA—
BSX, LLC
An employee was cutting a piece of aluminum using a torch. Unexploded ammunition inside the piece exploded, creating shrapnel that struck the employee. The employee suffered a chest contusion and a laceration up the left arm.
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO—
Wilderness Earthworks LLC
An employee was preparing a boulder for demolition. The employee drilled the boulder in two places using a jackhammer and loaded the first hole with a charge. The charge was a dud so the employee flushed out the hole with pressurized water. The employee put gel into the second hole to expand and hold the charge. The second charge was also a dud. The employee flushed the second hole with pressurized water, releasing both charges. The employee drilled another hole and an unknown charge released, causing debris to go into the employee's face and arms. The employee was hospitalized.
REDFIELD, ARKANSAS—
Meylan Special Services
An employee was holding a pole with an explosive charge on the end of it, which was being used to de-slag a boiler. The explosive charge ignited and caused lacerations to the employee's left hand which resulted in amputation of the hand.
HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA—
Precision Blasting, Inc.
A contractor employee sustained a possible amputation of the left leg below the knee during explosive blasting.