Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 14387575 - Employee burned in fire at chemical mixing tank

Accident Summary Nr: 14387575 -- Report ID: 0524200 -- Event Date: 07/22/1986
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
2204907	07/22/1986	2891	0	Morton Chemical Division

Abstract: Employee #1 was charging a 1,000-gallon mixing tank with dry materials prior to blending a batch of gel lacquer. Before charging, the tank had been cleaned with 50 gallons of toluene. The tank was charged through the top manhole opening using 370 pounds of a chlorinated rubber product and an estimated 120 pounds of carnauba wax. Employee #1 then removed the polyethylene liner from the fiberboard drum of wax and shook it. Shaking the polyethylene liner generated a static spark that ignited the dust and the toluene vapors in the tank. Fire flashed out of the tank and Employee #1 sustained first- and second-degree burns to 10 percent of his body. Nitrogen had been added to the tank, but sufficient oxygen was still present to support combustion.

Keywords: BURN, STATIC ELECTRICITY, FLAMMABLE VAPORS, WORK RULES, FIRE, TOLUENE, SPARK, CHEMICAL VAPOR, COMBUSTIBLE DUST, TANK

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	2204907			Hospitalized injury	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Occupation not reported

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