Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 14495725 - Two employees killed when sulfuric acid tank explodes

Accident Summary Nr: 14495725 -- Report ID: 0627700 -- Event Date: 09/03/1987
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
2312973	09/04/1987	3479	0	Rogers Galvanizing Co.

Abstract: At the direction of the maintenance supervisor, Employees #1 and #2 were replacing a collar on top of an 8,800 gallon acid storage tank. The tank had been drained of sulfuric acid but had not been cleaned, and 9 inches of acid sludge remained in the bottom of the tank. Employee #1 used an oxygen-propane torch to begin cutting the collar out of the tank. As he applied the torch, the tank exploded and he was thrown 50 feet to a rooftop southeast of the tank. He died as a result of his injuries. Employee #2, acting as a fire guard, was standing on a catwalk on the east side of the tank. He was killed when he was struck by the tank lid.

Keywords: MAINTENANCE, WORK RULES, STORAGE TANK, TORCH, EXPLOSION, STRUCK BY, CHEMICAL VAPOR, FLYING OBJECT, SULFURIC ACID, SLUDGE

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	2312973			Fatality	Other	Occupation not reported
2	2312973			Fatality	Other	Occupation not reported

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