Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 200072106 - Two employees sustain burns when LP gas tank explodes

Accident Summary Nr: 200072106 -- Report ID: 0453720 -- Event Date: 12/03/2003
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
306505215	12/04/2003	1522	236116	Wilkes Steel, Inc.

Abstract: At 2:00 p.m. on December 03, 2004, Employees #1 and #2 were working out in the scrap metal processing yard, separating the scrap metal as it continued down the shaker conveyor belt. Employees #1 and #2 were approximately 25 ft and 31 ft away from the baling shear when a liquefied petroleum (LP) gas attachment tank was moved into position to be cut by the baling shear (Harris Model-BSH-550 LH, Serial Number 580). When the baling shear moved down to cut into the tank's outer metal skin, a white-looking cloud of spray released low to the ground. It ignited, with red and orange flames coming out from the LP tank and baling shear directly towards Employees #1 and #2. They sustained 1st and 2nd degree burns from the heat and flames. Employees #1 and #2 were taken to the North Wilkesboro Hospital in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, for medical treatment. Employee #2 was treated and released. Employee #1 was taken by an air care to Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem, North Carolina, for further treatment.

Keywords: BURN, HEAT, SHEAR, FLAMMABLE LIQUID, FLAMMABLE VAPORS, GAS, PETROLEUM NAPHTHA, EXPLOSION, TANK

Accident Details
End Use		Project Type		Project Cost	Stories	Non-building Height	Fatality
Manufacturing plant		Other		$50,000 to $250,000	1	5000

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation	Construction
1	306505215			Hospitalized injury	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Laborers, except construction	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Other Activities-Post Decking Detail Work Fatality Cause: Other
2	306505215			Non Hospitalized injury	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Laborers, except construction	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Other Activities-Post Decking Detail Work Fatality Cause: Other

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