Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 14442834 - EXPLOSION IN UTILITY TUNNEL INJURES EMPLOYEE

Accident Summary Nr: 14442834 -- Report ID: 0355124 -- Event Date: 10/20/1987
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
3330644	10/20/1987	1623	0	C & V Utilities, Inc.

Abstract: CONSTRUCTION WORK IN A UTILITY TUNNEL HAD BEEN UNDERWAY FOR SEVEN DAYS. NO PROBLEMS HAD BEEN ENCOUNTERED. NO EXPLOSION METER WAS USED TO DETECT FLAMMABLE GASES. ON THE LAST DAY OF THE JOB EMPLOYEE #1 OPENED THE MANHOLE COVER AS USUAL, AND WAS PREPARING TO ENTER THE TUNNEL. AS HE WAS SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE MANHOLE HE DECIDED TO TAKE A SMOKE BREAK. WHEN HE LIT THE CIGARETTE AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED. HE RECEIVED SECOND DEGREE BURNS OVER 25% OF HIS BODY, FOR WHICH HE WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR TEN DAYS. SUSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TUNNEL CONTAINED NATURAL GAS (2%), APPARENTLY LEAKING FROM AN ADJACENT TUNNEL.

Keywords: BURN, FLAMMABLE VAPORS, WORK RULES, CONSTRUCTION, NATURAL GAS, EXPLOSION, SMOKING, MANHOLE

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	3330644			Hospitalized injury	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Construction laborers

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