Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 14542641 - PROPANE HEATER EXPLODED WHEN EMPLOYEES TRIED TO RELIGHT IT

Accident Summary Nr: 14542641 -- Report ID: 0418100 -- Event Date: 02/08/1985
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
1961127	02/08/1985	3296	0	Certaineed Corp

Abstract: A NON-FLAMMABLE, WATER-BASED GLUE WAS KEPT IN A TRAILER. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE APPROACHED THE FREEZING POINT A PROPANE HEATER WAS USED TO KEEP THE GLUE WARM. THE TRAILER WAS RELATIVELY AIR TIGHT. FOR SOME REASON, THE FLAME WENT OUT. THE SAFETY SWITCH HAD BEEN TAPED IN THE "OFF" POSITION, SO THAT THE THERMOCOUPLE WAS EFFECTIVELY BYPASSED, AND GAS CONTINUED TO FLOW. WHEN EMPLOYEES #1 AND #2 SAW THAT THE FLAME HAD GONE OUT, THEY IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO RESTART IT. AN EXPLOSION AND ENSUING FLASH FIRE RESULTED, SEVERELY BURNING BOTH EMPLOYEES. SEVEN DAYS LATER, BOTH EMPLOYEES WERE STILL ALIVE, BUT THE PROGNOSIS FOR EMPLOYEE #1 IS NOT GOOD.

Keywords: BURN, FLAMMABLE VAPORS, HEATER, WORK RULES, FIRE, EXPLOSION, PROPANE

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	1961127			Hospitalized injury	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Occupation not reported
2	1961127			Hospitalized injury	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Occupation not reported

Thank You for Visiting Our Website

You are exiting the Department of Labor's Web server.

The Department of Labor does not endorse, takes no responsibility for, and exercises no control over the linked organization or its views, or contents, nor does it vouch for the accuracy or accessibility of the information contained on the destination server. The Department of Labor also cannot authorize the use of copyrighted materials contained in linked Web sites. Users must request such authorization from the sponsor of the linked Web site. Thank you for visiting our site. Please click the button below to continue.