Explosion of pressure vessel, piping, or tire · Amputations, avulsions, enucleations unspecified
Final narrative
An employee was using a grinding/cutting tool to cut samples from inside a high-pressure processing cylinder. He was cutting samples to provide to the manufacturer due to cracks in the cylinder. The employee had cut and removed a sample from the smaller cracked side of the cylinder and then moved to the more significantly cracked side of the cylinder to cut a larger sample. He was making his final cut when the metal exploded. A piece of metal from the cylinder struck his left wrist, resulting in a laceration. The employee also suffered a broken left arm, a laceration to his right hand, and a fingertip amputation on the right hand. The employee was hospitalized.
HospitalizedAmputation Finger or thumb tip(s), nail(s) Pressurized containers unspecified
An employee was conducting torching operations using oxygen and propane to cut metal beams within the recycling laydown area. The employee used a hose with an air chuck connection to fill up the yard pickup truck's back tire with oxygen. The tire blew up which caused the oxygen to ignite. The employee sustained fractures, internal injuries, burns, and lacerations.
An employee was replacing a tire on a wheelbarrow when the tire exploded. The employee sustained fractures to his right hand and an abrasion to the right side of his face. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery on his right hand.
An employee was checking the pressure gauge on a unit from a step stool. As he was stepping down, the ball valve ruptured and grazed the side of his left hand. The employee was hospitalized with an injury to the hand near the thumb and required surgery.
A mechanic was changing out an air spring on a concrete mixer truck cab. The air spring was receiving higher air pressure than it was designed to use, because of a faulty level check valve. This increased pressure caused the air spring to burst. Its top portion separated and struck the employee's left forearm, causing a laceration and fracture. The employee was hospitalized, requiring surgery.
An employee was hydro testing and pressurizing a pipe when it blew. The lid struck the employee, causing a gash to his elbow and injury to his abdominal area that required surgery.