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Accident Report Detail
Accident Summary Nr: 14418313 - TWO EMPLOYEES KILLED IN CHEMICAL PLANT EXPLOSION
| Inspection Nr | Date Opened | SIC | NAICS | Establishment Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100921915 | 08/21/1989 | 2892 | 0 | Atlas Powder Company |
Abstract: A PLANT WAS MAKING PENTOLITE, A CLASS OF EXPLOSIVE PRIMER. WORKERS WERE MIXING TNT AND PETN IN TWO KETTLES THAT WERE HEATED TO ABOUT 212 DEGREES BY HOT WATER AND STEAM. THE FLOW OF HOT WATER SLOWED DUE TO A PUMP MALFUNCTION, SOLIDIFYING THE TNT-PETN MIXTURE IN A PIPE BENEATH ONE KETTLE. EMPLOYEES #1 AND #2 TRIED TO REMOVE THE BLOCKAGE WITH THE PIPE IN PLACE USING HOT WATER. THIS DID NOT WORK, SO THE PIPE CONTAINING THE SOLID MIX WAS REMOVED AND PLACED ON THE FLOOR. ONE EMPLOYEE TRIED TO PRY THE STOPPAGE LOOSE USING A SCREW DRIVER AND A RAWHIDE MALLET. THIS CAUSED THE SHOCK-SENSITIVE TNT-PETN MIXTURE TO EXPLODE. THE EXPLOSION KILLED TWO EMPLOYEES AND INJURED TWO OTHERS.
| Employee # | Inspection Nr | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100921915 | Fatality | Other | Occupation not reported | ||
| 2 | 100921915 | Fatality | Other | Occupation not reported | ||
| 3 | 100921915 | Hospitalized injury | Other | Occupation not reported | ||
| 4 | 100921915 | Hospitalized injury | Cut/Laceration | Occupation not reported |