Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 14527121 - GAS EXPLOSION AND FIRE IN RETAIL FURNITURE STORE

Accident Summary Nr: 14527121 -- Report ID: 0419400 -- Event Date: 02/04/1986
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
17436957	02/04/1986	5712	0	Watkins Furniture And Appliance Store, Inc.
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
17436569	02/04/1986	1711	0	Gene Horton Plumbing Service
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
17436957	02/04/1986	5712	0	Watkins Furniture And Appliance Store, Inc.
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
17436783	02/14/1986	1623	0	Associated Constructors, Inc.
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
17436775	02/04/1986	4923	0	Entex, Inc.

Abstract: THE EMPLOYER'S FAMILY AND THEIR EMPLOYEES WERE DOING ROUTINE WORK IN A RETAIL FURNITURE STORE. SUDDENLY AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED, WITH ENSUING FIRE, STARTING IN THE EAST REAR OF THE BUILDING . THE MAIN FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION CAME THROUGH THE CEILING. THE BLAST BLEW OUT THE REAR WALL AND PART OF THE WEST WALL, THEN TRAVELLED THROUGH THE CEILING AND EAST WALL TO THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING, BLOWING OUT THE GLASS FRONT AND PART OF THE METAL BUILDING. GAS HAD ENTERED THE STORE THROUGH THE CONCRETE FLOOR AND THE OPEN SEWER VENT PIPE. (THERE WERE WATER LINE OPENINGS IN THE FLOOR.) THE SERVCE GAS LINE HAD BEEN CUT, ADJACENT TO A BROKEN SEWER LINE, MONTHS EARLIER BY A CONSTRUCTION CREW. THE GAS LINE HAD BEEN REPAIRED, BUT AN UNAUTHORIZED DRESSER COUPLING HAD BEEN USED. THE COUPLING CAME APART, ALLOWING GAS TO SATURATE THE ENTIRE AREA (100% OF THE LEL). THE EXPLOSION AND FIRE KILLED EIGHT EMPLOYEES. ONE EMPLOYEE REMAINS IN SERIOUS CONDITION IN THE HOSPITAL.

Keywords: FLAMMABLE VAPORS, EXPLOSION, BURN, FIRE, NATURAL GAS, GAS LEAK

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	17436957	Fatality	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Occupation not reported
2	17436569			Occupation Not Listed
3	17436957	Fatality	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Occupation not reported
4	17436957	Fatality	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Occupation not reported
5	17436957	Fatality	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Occupation not reported
6	17436957	Fatality	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Occupation not reported
7	17436957	Fatality	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Occupation not reported
8	17436957	Fatality	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Occupation not reported
9	17436957	Fatality	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Occupation not reported
10	17436957	Hospitalized injury	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Occupation not reported
11	17436783			Occupation Not Listed
12	17436775			Occupation Not Listed

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